SAN ANTONIO (WOAI/KABB) — U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Thursday afternoon that he is no longer seeking reelection as he faces mounting pressure from Republican leaders following his admission of an affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide.
At 18, I swore 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 that cause with absolute dedication to the country that I love. From overcoming the border crisis to taking a stand with my communities after the worst school shooting in Texas’ history, my philosophy has never changed: do as much as you can, and always fight for the greater good. 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. Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. “God has a plan for all of us.
Gonzales, a Republican who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, had been urged by GOP leadership to drop his reelection bid after publicly acknowledging the relationship. Party leaders had not initially called for his resignation, instead asking him to withdraw from the 2026 race.
The announcement comes one day after Gonzales admitted to the affair during an interview on “The Joe Pags Show.”
“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” Gonzales said in the interview.
The former staffer was identified as Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. The revelation of the relationship and her death prompted calls for Gonzales to step down and led to a formal investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Gonzales previously said he welcomed the investigation. Rep. Gonzales will carry out the remainder of his term.
National Headline
