US Politics
Texas Republican Tony Gonzales drops re-election bid after admitting affair with staffer who died by suicide
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Representative Tony Gonzales has dropped his bid for re-election after admitting to having an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
The Texas Republican wrote in a statement released late Thursday night, “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.”
For months, Gonzales has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, a 35-year-old wife and mother who worked in his Uvalde office.
After initially denying the allegations, Gonzales admitted he “made a mistake,” calling his infidelity with a subordinate “a lapse in judgment” in an interview with conservative talk show host Joe Pagliarulo, released Wednesday.
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Gonzales said he had reconciled with his wife, Angel, with whom he shares six children, and “asked God to forgive me, which he has.”
Santos-Aviles died in September 2025 in the backyard of her Uvalde home. Gonzales told Pagliarulo he had “absolutely nothing to do” with her death.
In his statement announcing his departure from Congress next year, Gonzales touted his work “overcoming the border crisis” and “taking a stand with my communities” after the 2022 deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.
“Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful,” Gonzales said.
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Amid the controversy surrounding the affair, Gonzales was forced into a primary runoff with gun rights activist Brandon Herrera.
House Republican leadership called on Gonzales to drop his re-election bid earlier Thursday. That came after the House Ethics Committee announced it was investigating whether Gonzales violated any rules in connection with allegations he may have engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee in his office and discriminated unfairly by giving special favors.
“Congressman Gonzales has said he will fully cooperate with the investigation. We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain said in a joint statement.
“In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election,” the GOP representatives added.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, reach out to the national suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.
