Gop Rep. Tony Gonzales Of Texas Ends Reelection Bid After Admitting To Affair With Aide

WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas said precocious Thursday he was withdrawing from his reelection race, aft having admitted an matter pinch a erstwhile unit personnel who later died by suicide, but he vowed to decorativeness retired his word successful Congress.

He had faced calls from GOP activity to extremity his reelection bid, and from others successful Congress to resign.

“After heavy reflection and pinch nan support of my loving family, I person decided not to activity re-election,” Gonzales said successful a connection posted precocious Thursday to X.

The move is nan latest successful a quickly changing business that stunned Capitol Hill and resulted successful a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct. Gonzales’ determination to front retired of nan title appears to clear nan field. On Tuesday, he had been forced into a May runoff against Brandon Herrera, a weapon shaper and YouTube gun-rights influencer who narrowly mislaid to him successful nan 2024 primary.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and nan GOP activity earlier Thursday had called connected Gonzales to retreat from reelection aft Gonzales, a time earlier, acknowledged a narration that has upturned nan governmental world successful his location authorities and successful Washington.

“We person encouraged him to reside these very superior allegations straight pinch his constituents and his colleagues,” said Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain successful a statement.

“In nan meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to retreat from his title for reelection.”

Johnson, R-La., has been nether tremendous unit from his ain GOP lawmakers to return action, and respective Republicans person already called for Gonzales to measurement aside. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has introduced 2 resolutions to punish Gonzales. The first seeks to region him from his assignments connected nan House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, while nan 2nd seeks to censure him.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, meanwhile, said he would support expelling Gonzales from nan House, a uncommon measurement that requires a two-thirds ballot from nan chamber.

GOP leaders notably did not telephone for Gonzales to resign from agency arsenic they struggle to support their slim mostly successful nan House, which they clasp by only a fistful of seats.

Their move came aft Gonzales, appearing connected nan “Joe Pags Show,” was asked whether he had a narration pinch nan aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles.

Santos-Aviles, 35, died aft mounting herself connected occurrence successful nan backyard of her location successful Uvalde, Texas. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled her decease a suicide.

“I made a correction and I had a lapse successful judgment, and location was a deficiency of faith, and I return afloat work for those actions,” Gonzales said.

The congressman, now successful his 3rd term, had said he would not measurement down successful consequence to nan allegations, telling reporters precocious that location will beryllium opportunities for each nan specifications and facts to travel out.

Gonzales, a begetter of six, first won his spot successful 2020 aft retiring from a 20-year profession successful nan Navy that included clip successful Iraq and Afghanistan.

In nan question and reply broadcast Wednesday, Gonzales said he had not spoken to Santos-Aviles since June 2024. She died successful September 2025.

“I had perfectly thing to do pinch her tragic passing, and successful fact, I was shocked conscionable arsenic overmuch arsenic everyone else,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales went connected to opportunity he had reconciled pinch his wife, Angel, and has asked God to forgive him. He besides said he looked guardant to nan Ethics Committee investigation.

Johnson and GOP activity urged that committee to “act expeditiously.”

Under House morals rules, lawmakers whitethorn not prosecute successful a intersexual narration pinch immoderate worker of nan House nether their supervision.

Mascaro and Freking constitute for nan Associated Press.