Rep. Tony Gonzales ends reelection bid after admitting to affair

Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY Fri, March 6, 2026 at 5:49 AM UTC

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Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican who admitted to having an affair with a former staffer who died by self-immolation, will not seek reelection, the lawmaker announced on March 5.

“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,” Gonzales wrote in a statement posted on X.

His announcement came hours after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leaders called on Gonzales to withdraw from his reelection bid ahead of a May 26 runoff against gun activist Brandon Herrera. Gonzales has been embroiled in controversy after allegations spread about an affair with his late ex-staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles.

In February, NBC News reported that Gonzales sent Santos-Aviles, who died in September 2025, multiple sexually explicit texts in May 2024. The San Antonio Express-News also reported that Santos-Aviles admitted to an improper relationship in text messages with a former colleague.

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Gonzales initially denied the allegations and claimed the reports were a blackmail attempt, the El Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported. Gonzales appeared on the Joe Pags podcast, released on March 4, and admitted to the affair, saying he "made a mistake."

"I had a lapse in judgement and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions," Gonzales said on the podcast. "I've asked God for forgiveness, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever."

His appearance also comes after the House Ethics Committee voted to establish an investigation into Gonzales. The panel will examine whether he "engaged in sexual misconduct towards an individual employed in his congressional office" and "discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges."

Contributing: Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY; Natassia Paloma, El Paso Times

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tony Gonzales ends reelection bid after admitting to staffer affair

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