Republican Representative Tony Gonzales has withdrawn from the race for Texas’s 23rd congressional district after admitting to an affair with a staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by self-immolation.
Gonzales, a father of six children, confessed in a podcast interview that he had “a lapse in judgment” and “lack of faith,” taking full responsibility for his actions. He stated that he has asked God to forgive him and that his faith remains strong.
The incident comes after sexually explicit texts Gonzales allegedly sent to Santos-Aviles were leaked to the media, prompting an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
President Donald Trump endorsed Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and YouTuber known as “the AK Guy,” for the seat. Herrera previously challenged Gonzales in 2024 and lost by fewer than 400 votes.
Herrera will now face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, an attorney and former elementary school teacher. Democrats had previously believed the seat was too secure to flip but now see an opportunity after Gonzales dropped out.
