Tony Gonzales announces he won’t seek re-election after extramarital affair

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Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, announced Thursday evening that he would not seek reelection amid a House ethics investigation into an affair he admitted to having with a former staffer.

Gonzales, married with 6 children, first admitted the affair during an appearance on a conservative radio show Wednesday — a day after advancing to the GOP primary runoff for his congressional district.

“At age 18, I took an oath to defend our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. During my 20 years in the military and three terms in Congress, I have fought for this cause with absolute dedication to the country I love,” Gonzales said in a statement.

“Whether it’s overcoming the border crisis or standing with my communities after the worst school shooting in Texas history, my philosophy has never changed: do everything you can and always fight for the greater good,” he continued.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, arrives for a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“After deep consideration and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I have always had to my district,” he added. “During the remainder of my term, I will continue to fight for my constituents, for whom I will be forever grateful.”

“I made a mistake, I made an error of judgment, there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” he said Wednesday night on the “Joe Pags Show.” “I have since reconciled with my wife, Angel. I asked God to forgive me, which He did, and my faith is stronger than ever.”

The House Ethics Committee also launched an investigation into Gonzales on Wednesday to determine whether he engaged in sexual misconduct with a female member of his staff and whether he doled out any favors or special privileges as a result.

The former employee, Regina Santos-Aviles, died after setting herself on fire outside her home late last year.

MIKE JOHNSON ASKS RUNNING HOUSE REPUBLICANT TONY GONZALES TO DROP HIS RE-ELECTION BID

Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, is seen at the U.S. Capitol before the House votes to keep the government funded through March, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

House Republican leaders called on the embattled representative to abandon his re-election bid.

“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into the conduct of Congressman Tony Gonzales, and we urge them to act quickly. Congressman Gonzales has said he will cooperate fully with the investigation.” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other senior Republicans said in a statement this week.

“We encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election,” they added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other top Republicans encouraged Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, to withdraw his re-election campaign amid a House ethics investigation into the matter. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Gonzales’ departure paves the way for the nomination of challenger Brandon Herrera. Herrera narrowly edged Gonzales by a margin of 43.33% to 41.73% in the Texas Republican primary for the 23rd Congressional District on Tuesday, prompting a runoff as neither candidate received 50% of the vote.

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Herrera called his opponent’s withdrawal from the race an “appropriate decision.”

“I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the right decision,” Herrera wrote on

Gonzales initially said he would not back down in the face of the accusations, telling reporters in late February “what you saw doesn’t match all the facts.”

Anders Hagstrom and Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.

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