Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales, a Republican representing the state’s sprawling 23rd Congressional District, announced on March 5, 2026, that he would not seek re-election. The decision came after a tumultuous week in which Gonzales admitted to having an affair with a former staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2025. The announcement followed mounting pressure from House Republican leadership, a formal ethics investigation, and growing bipartisan calls for him to step aside.
Gonzales, who had been facing a high-stakes primary runoff against gun rights activist Brandon Herrera, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) saying, “After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district.” According to BBC News, the married father of six did not directly reference the scandal in his statement, but the timing left little doubt about the cause.
The controversy erupted after months of denial by Gonzales regarding allegations of an inappropriate relationship with Santos-Aviles, who worked in his Uvalde district office. The San Antonio Express-News first reported on the affair, which was later confirmed by text messages obtained by Axios and reviewed by lawyers representing Santos-Aviles’ husband. In one text exchange from May 2024, Gonzales asked Santos-Aviles for a “sexy pic,” to which she replied, “this is too far tony.” Another exchange, shared with CBS News, showed Santos-Aviles confiding to a coworker, “I had affair with boss.”
The story took a tragic turn when Santos-Aviles, who was married and had a son, died by suicide outside her home in Uvalde in September 2025. Police reports cited by CBS News indicate that she set herself on fire and, when officers arrived, told them, “my god, I don’t wanna die.” The medical examiner ruled her death a suicide. Gonzales, in an interview with conservative talk show host Joe Pags released on March 4, 2026, insisted, “I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing. And, in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else.” He added, “She was thriving at work.”
The House Code of Official Conduct strictly prohibits romantic or sexual relationships between members of Congress and their staff, making Gonzales’ admission a clear violation. The House Ethics Committee formally launched an investigation into Gonzales on March 2, 2026, just after the first round of the Republican primary. Leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and Chairwoman Lisa McClain, issued a joint statement on March 5 urging the committee to act “expeditiously.” They stated, “We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”
While some lawmakers, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, called for Gonzales to resign immediately, House GOP leadership stopped short of demanding his resignation, instead asking him to withdraw from the runoff. Johnson described resignation as a political “death penalty,” according to Axios, a move that would have further narrowed the GOP’s already razor-thin majority in the House. Republicans currently hold only a four-seat edge, making every member’s presence crucial for passing party-line bills.
The Ethics Committee’s investigation is complicated by timing. As NBC News reported, the Office of Congressional Conduct completed a related probe within 60 days of the Texas primary, forwarding its findings to the Ethics Committee. However, the committee only investigates sitting lawmakers, so if Gonzales’ term expires before the investigation concludes, the process could be abruptly halted.
Gonzales’ district, stretching from San Antonio to El Paso and encompassing much of the U.S.-Mexico border, is considered safely Republican. He had been set to face Brandon Herrera in a May 26 runoff, after neither candidate secured a majority in the March 3 primary. With Gonzales’ exit, Herrera is now expected to face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in November.
Throughout the ordeal, Gonzales maintained that the controversy was about “power and money.” In his interview with Joe Pags, he called the affair a “mistake” and a “lapse in judgment,” but also claimed he was the target of a “co-ordinated” attack to unseat him. He initially dismissed the allegations as “blackmail.” After his public admission, he stated that he and his wife had “reconciled.”
The bipartisan outcry was swift. Both Democrats and Republicans voiced concern not only about the ethical breach but also about the tragic outcome for Santos-Aviles. According to The New York Times, her widower’s lawyer reviewed the sexual texts exchanged between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles, and a fellow staff member confirmed that Santos-Aviles had spoken of an “affair with our boss.”
Despite the scandal, former President Trump has not withdrawn his endorsement of Gonzales. As Axios noted, this stands in contrast to the broader Republican leadership’s stance. Rep. Luna, who has seen what she described as photo evidence of the affair, told Axios she does not plan to release the images, though she discussed their existence with Speaker Johnson.
The situation also highlights the challenges facing the House Ethics Committee and party leadership when personal misconduct collides with political imperatives. The GOP’s slim majority means that even a single resignation can tip the balance of power, complicating decisions that might otherwise be straightforward. As the investigation proceeds, questions linger about transparency and accountability in Congress, especially when personal failings have such public consequences.
For Gonzales, the decision to serve out the remainder of his term rather than resign immediately allows the party to maintain its fragile grip on the House. Yet, the episode has left a mark on Texas politics and on the ongoing debate over ethics and accountability in Washington. The story of Tony Gonzales and Regina Santos-Aviles is a stark reminder of the human costs behind political scandals—and the far-reaching impact such events can have on individuals, families, and the institutions meant to serve the public.