Texas GOP Incumbent Tony Gonzales Advances To GOP Runoff Amid Staffer Sex Scandal And Suicide Tragedy

Republican incumbent Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales was defeated in his primary Tuesday amid a staffer sex scandal and suicide tragedy.

Gonzales and gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera are projected to head into a runoff, according to the Hill’s Decision Desk HQ report.

Neither Gonzales nor Herrera secured more than 50% of the vote in the primary, forcing the pair into a May runoff in the GOP race for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District — a rematch after their narrow 2024 showdown.

The future GOP candidate will now face Democratic candidate, attorney, and former public school teacher, Katy Stout, in the November 2o26 general election.

The congressman, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, has been under a House ethics investigation over the past year stemming from an alleged affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, his former regional district director.

🚨 BREAKING: Brandon Herrera and RINO adulterer Rep. Tony Gonzales move on to a RUNOFF election in May after neither candidate receives 50% in the TX-23 primary, per @Redistrict

Gonzales CANNOT win this race.

TEXAS 23 MUST RALLY BEHIND HERRERA! pic.twitter.com/DSmKi7xyA0

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 4, 2026

The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Santos-Aviles’ death in September a suicide after surveillance footage showed her pouring a liquid on herself and setting herself on fire. She succumbed to her injuries after suffering burns to nearly 100% of her body. (RELATED: Autopsy Reveals GOP Rep’s Alleged Affair Partner Under Influence Before Self-Immolation)

I’m looking forward to seeing @KenPaxtonTX beat John Cornyn on Tuesday.

I firmly believe this will be the election that Texas votes to remove two of the worst Republicans from DC, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. https://t.co/OAEP2E8kvT

— Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) March 2, 2026

The San Antonio Express-News obtained alleged text messages between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles from May 2024, where he requested a “sexy pic” and asked about her “favorite” sexual position.

“This is going too far boss,” Santos-Aviles allegedly replied.

Brandon Herrera is likely to defeat Tony Gonzales in the GOP primary for TX-23 as GOP Reps. Gill, Luna, and Boebert call for Gonzales to drop out amid deadly office affair scandal.

Gonzales was confirmed to have an affair with a married subordinate in his political office,… pic.twitter.com/0PD67T4BYo

— AF Post (@AFpost) February 23, 2026

The texts were provided to the Express-News by Adrian Aviles, her widower.

A separate staffer in Gonzales’ office also reportedly received messages from Santos-Aviles confirming the alleged affair. (RELATED: GOP Lawmaker Accused Of Affair With Aide Who Later Set Herself On Fire)

In the months before her death, Santos-Aviles told another Gonzales staffer she had been in a relationship with the congressman, according to a San Antonio Express-News report. A former employee in Gonzales’ district office said she privately disclosed the relationship to him in 2024 and struggled emotionally after her husband discovered the affair and after Gonzales allegedly cut off communication.

The former staffer shared a screenshot with the Express-News of a text message in which Santos-Aviles referenced having an “affair with our boss.”

When asked Feb. 24 whether the alleged messages between him and Santos-Aviles were authentic, Gonzales declined to answer.

“I am not going to resign, I work everyday for the people of Texas,” he said. “And there will be opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you have seen is not all the facts.”

JUST IN: Rep. Tony Gonzales REFUSES to resign after text messages appear to show him to be having an affair with a young married female staffer who eventually set herself ON FIRE after her husband found out and it was all exposed.

This is so disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/8UhXddYyQP

— Eric Spracklen 🇺🇸 (@EricSpracklen) February 24, 2026

Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday that he plans to meet with Gonzales amid calls for his resignation. (RELATED: GOP Lawmaker Accused Of Torrid Affair With Staffer Getting A Visit From The Boss)

“I think we have to wait for more of the facts to come out,” Johnson said Monday, adding he does not think “it’s time” to call for Gonzales to step down.