Texas GOP Incumbent Tony Gonzales Advances To GOP Runoff Amid Staffer Sex Scandal And Suicide Tragedy
Incumbent Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales was defeated in his primary Tuesday amid a staff sex scandal and a tragic suicide.
Gonzales and gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera are expected to head to a runoff, according to the report from Hill’s Decision Desk headquarters.
Neither Gonzales nor Herrera received more than 50% of the vote in the primary, forcing both men into a May runoff in the GOP race for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District — a rematch after their close 2024 showdown.
The upcoming GOP nominee will now face Democratic candidate, attorney and former public school teacher Katy Stout in the November 2026 general election.
The congressman, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, has been the subject of a House ethics investigation over the past year following an alleged affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, his former regional district director.
🚨 BREAKING: Brandon Herrera and RINO adulterous Rep. Tony Gonzales advance to May runoff elections after neither candidate received 50% in TX-23 primary, according to @Redistrict
Gonzales CANNOT win this race.
TEXAS 23 MUST RALLY BEHIND HERRERA! pic.twitter.com/DSmKi7xyA0
– Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 4, 2026
THE Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office called Santos-Aviles’ death in September a suicide after surveillance footage showed her pouring liquid over herself and setting herself on fire. She succumbed to her injuries after suffering burns to almost 100% of her body. (RELATED: Autopsy Finds GOP Rep’s Alleged Partner Was Under the Influence Before Self-Immolation)
I can’t wait to see @KenPaxtonTX defeated John Cornyn on Tuesday.
I firmly believe this will be the election in which Texas votes to eliminate two of the worst Republicans in Washington, DC, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. https://t.co/OAEP2E8kvT
– Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) March 2, 2026
The San Antonio Express-News obtained alleged text messages between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles dating back to May 2024, in which he requested a “sexy photo” and asked her about her “favorite” sex position.
“This is going too far, boss,” Santos-Aviles allegedly responded.
Brandon Herrera is likely to defeat Tony Gonzales in the GOP primary for TX-23 as GOP Reps. Gill, Luna and Boebert call on Gonzales to quit amid a deadly office scandal.
Gonzales was confirmed to have an affair with a married subordinate in his political office,… pic.twitter.com/0PD67T4BYo
– AF Post (@AFpost) February 23, 2026
The texts were provided to Express-News by Adrian Aviles, her widower.
Another staff member in Gonzales’ office also allegedly received messages from Santos-Aviles confirming the alleged affair. (RELATED: GOP lawmaker accused of affair with aide who then set himself on fire)
In the months before her death, Santos-Aviles told another member of Gonzales’ staff that she had had a relationship with the congressman, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News. A former employee in Gonzales’s district office said she privately disclosed the relationship to him in 2024 and had emotional difficulties after her husband discovered the affair and after Gonzales allegedly broke off communication.
The former staffer shared a screenshot with Express-News of a text message in which Santos-Aviles referred to an “affair with our boss.”
When asked on February 24 if the alleged messages between him and Santos-Aviles were authentic, Gonzales refused to answer.
“I’m not going to resign, I work every day for the people of Texas,” he said. “And there will be an opportunity for all the details and all the facts to be revealed. What you saw does not represent all the facts.”
JUST IN: Rep. Tony Gonzales REFUSES to resign after text messages appear to show him having an affair with a young married staffer who ultimately set herself on FIRE after her husband found out and all was revealed.
It’s so shameful. pic.twitter.com/8UhXddYyQP
– Éric Spracklen 🇺🇸 (@EricSpracklen) February 24, 2026
Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday that he planned to meet with Gonzales amid calls for his resignation. (RELATED: GOP lawmaker accused of steamy affair with staffer receiving visit from boss)
“I think we have to wait until more facts come out,” Johnson said Monday, adding that he didn’t think “it’s time” to call on Gonzales to resign.
