Rep. Tony Gonzales drops out of Home runoff race after admitting affair with aide

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales dropped his reelection bid for his Texas congressional district on Thursday, after admitting to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.

“After deep reflection and with the help of my loving household, I’ve determined to not search reelection whereas serving out the remainder of this Congress with the identical dedication I’ve at all times needed to my district,” Gonzales mentioned in a assertion on X that didn’t immediately point out the scandal that has dogged the three-term congressman in latest weeks.

Gonzales was set to face off towards hard-right gun activist Brandon Herrera in a GOP major runoff in Could. Herrera will now face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in November. 

The twenty third Congressional District, which covers a big swath of the U.S.-Mexico border and West Texas, closely favors Republicans.

Regardless of calls from Democrats and Republicans to resign, Gonzales had beforehand insisted he wouldn’t resign or drop out of the race. However at some point after the Home Ethics Committee opened an investigation and he admitted to the affair, Home Speaker Mike Johnson and different members of Republican management referred to as on him to drop his reelection bid. 

“We have now inspired him to handle these very severe allegations immediately together with his constituents and his colleagues. Within the meantime, Management has requested Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election,” Home GOP management mentioned Thursday. 

Gonzales had beforehand denied the affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide who died in September after lighting herself on fireplace. In accordance with a police report launched final month in Uvalde, Texas, Santos-Aviles was aware when police arrived that night time and instructed officers, “my god, I do not wanna die.”

Santos-Aviles was married and had a son. Gonzales is married and is the daddy of six youngsters. 

Texts between the pair that have been seen by CBS Information confirmed Santos-Aviles instructed Gonzales “that is going too far boss” after he requested for a “horny pic” in 2024. In one other textual content change with a coworker that was seen by CBS Information, Santos-Aviles wrote, “I had affair with boss.” 

A day after his major with Herrera, Gonzales acknowledged the affair in an interview with a conservative speak present host. The congressman referred to as it a “mistake” and a “lapse in judgment,” however insisted the controversy surrounding the affair was “about energy and cash.”