Rep. Tony Gonzales Ends Reelection Bid Amid Ethics Probe into Affair with Staffer

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) announced on Thursday evening that he will not seek re-election amid an ongoing House Ethics investigation into his affair with a former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. The decision comes after Gonzales admitted to the affair during an appearance on a conservative talk radio show and faced pressure from GOP leadership.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct with Santos-Aviles, who worked as his staffer, and whether he granted her special favors or privileges. The committee's probe follows House rules that prohibit lawmakers from engaging in sexual relationships with employees under their supervision.

Gonzales, a married father of six, acknowledged the affair during an appearance on 'The Joe Pags Show' Wednesday night. 'I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,' he said. He added that he has reconciled with his wife, Angel, and asked God to forgive him.

Santos-Aviles, 35, died after setting herself on fire outside her home in Uvalde, Texas, in September 2025. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a suicide. Gonzales stated that he had not spoken to Santos-Aviles since June 2024 and denied any involvement in her tragic passing.

Gonzales' departure from the reelection race paves the way for challenger Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTube gun-rights influencer, to secure the nomination. Herrera narrowly edged Gonzales by a 43.33% - 41.73% margin in Texas' GOP primary for the 23rd congressional district on Tuesday, triggering a runoff due to neither candidate earning 50% of the vote. Herrera called Gonzales' withdrawal 'the appropriate decision.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders had urged Gonzales to withdraw from the reelection race but stopped short of calling for his resignation, citing the need to maintain their slim majority in the House. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced resolutions to remove Gonzales from his committee assignments and censure him. Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed support for expelling Gonzales from the House, a rare step requiring a two-thirds vote.

Gonzales, who first won his seat in 2020 after retiring from a 20-year career in the Navy that included service in Iraq and Afghanistan, stated he would not step down in response to the allegations. He expressed willingness to cooperate with the Ethics Committee investigation but vowed to finish out his term in Congress.

Gonzales had previously denied the affair for months after texts between him and Santos-Aviles were shared by her husband, Adrian. The texts included explicit messages from Gonzales asking for a 'sexy pic' and inquiring about her favorite sex position, as reported by The Washington Post. His admission came shortly after the House Ethics Committee announced its investigation.