Rep. Tony Gonzales drops out of House runoff race after admitting affair with aide

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales dropped his reelection bid for his Texas legislature territory connected Thursday, aft admitting to an matter with a staffer who aboriginal died by suicide.

"After heavy reflection and with the enactment of my loving family, I person decided not to question reelection portion serving retired the remainder of this Congress with the aforesaid committedness I've ever had to my district," Gonzales said successful a statement connected X that did not straight notation the ungraded that has dogged the three-term congressman successful caller weeks.

Gonzales was acceptable to look disconnected against hard-right weapon activistic Brandon Herrera successful a GOP superior runoff successful May. Herrera volition present look Democrat Katy Padilla Stout successful November. 

The 23rd Congressional District, which covers a ample swath of the U.S.-Mexico borderline and West Texas, heavy favors Republicans.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, astatine the U.S. Capitol connected Feb. 3, 2026. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Despite calls from Democrats and Republicans to resign, Gonzales had antecedently insisted helium would not resign oregon driblet retired of the race. But 1 time aft the House Ethics Committee opened an probe and helium admitted to the affair, House Speaker Mike Johnson and different members of Republican enactment called connected him to driblet his reelection bid. 

"We person encouraged him to code these precise superior allegations straight with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to retreat from his contention for re-election," House GOP enactment said Thursday. 

Gonzales had antecedently denied the matter with Regina Santos-Aviles, a erstwhile adjutant who died successful September aft lighting herself connected fire. According to a constabulary study released past period successful Uvalde, Texas, Santos-Aviles was conscious erstwhile constabulary arrived that nighttime and told officers, "my god, I don't wanna die."

Santos-Aviles was joined and had a son. Gonzales is joined and is the begetter of six children. 

Texts betwixt the brace that were viewed by CBS News showed Santos-Aviles told Gonzales "this is going excessively acold boss" aft helium asked for a "sexy pic" successful 2024. In another substance exchange with a coworker that was viewed by CBS News, Santos-Aviles wrote, "I had matter with boss." 

A time aft his superior with Herrera, Gonzales acknowledged the matter successful an interrogation with a blimpish speech amusement host. The congressman called it a "mistake" and a "lapse successful judgment," but insisted the contention surrounding the matter was "about powerfulness and money."