EXCLUSIVE: Tony Gonzales’s Support Crumbling Amid Alleged Affair Scandal, Poll Shows
Support for Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales is plummeting after accusations of an affair with a former aide who later committed suicide came to light, according to a poll obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller.
Regina Santos-Aviles reportedly confirmed the affair months before she set herself on fire outside her Uvalde, Texas, home in September 2025. In a February 18-20 poll by Pi Polling of 543 likely Republican primary voters, 54 percent of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of Gonzales, who is facing Second Amendment activist and YouTube personality Brandon Herrera in the Republican primary. (RELATED: Jasmine Crockett Drops the Race Card on a Group You May Not Expect)
EXCLUSIVE: Poll shows GOP challenger overtaking Texas incumbent in Key House primary: ‘Texas is tired of waking up Tony Gonzales.’ https://t.co/r4Eotqi3VO
– Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 13, 2026
Gonzales trails Herrera, 45% to 21%, according to the February poll, a sharp drop from the 40% to 33% lead he held in a PI Polling survey conducted in December, although Gonzales received an endorsement from President Donald Trump. When informed of the allegations, 61 percent of respondents said they were less likely to vote for Gonzales in the March 3 primary election.
Sources in Texas familiar with the matter told the Daily Caller that Gonzales and Santos-Aviles’ romantic relationship was “an open secret.” Prior to this, the rumor had not been independently confirmed by the Daily Caller.
“It’s common knowledge,” said Bobby Barrera, a lawyer representing Adrian Aviles, Regina’s widower. “Staff were clearly aware that this event was occurring. »
A former Gonzales staffer, who resigned to work on two Democratic campaigns in the Los Angeles area, told the Daily Caller that the affair became “public knowledge” during the 2024 election, with at least two meetings in a rental cabin during a runoff between Gonzales and Herrera. After text messages from Santos-Aviles were obtained by the San Antonio Express-News, the news outlet rescinded its support for Gonzales’ re-election.
I have now seen some of the text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late assistant, Regina Santos-Aviles.
It is now clear to me that Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and destroyed a family.
I also know now that this is not the only case.
He must resign. pic.twitter.com/H5wfdjl6pH
– Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) February 22, 2026
“I have now seen some text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late assistant, Regina Santos-Aviles,” Herrera posted Sunday afternoon on X, days after Wednesday’s Daily Caller report. “It is now clear to me that Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and destroyed a family. I also know now that this is not the only case. He must resign.”
In my six years in Congress, no formal complaint has been filed against my office. A few days before the elections, coordinated political attacks reign. THIS WILL NOT WORK. Halfway through early voting, the intensity lies with TG voters. I’d rather be us than them.
-Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) February 22, 2026
“In my six years in Congress, no official complaint has been filed against my office,” Gonzales posted on X at 3:46 a.m. Sunday morning. “With the election just days away, coordinated political attacks reign. THIS WILL NOT WORK. Halfway through early voting, the intensity lies with TG voters. I’d rather be us than them.”
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