House Republican leadership is calling on Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales to drop his reelection bid just hours after the lawmaker admitted to having an affair with his aide who took her own life in September 2025.
Gonzales, a married father of six, confessed to having a relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, his married former aide who committed suicide by setting herself on fire, Wednesday night on “Unshaken and Unafraid with Joe Page” podcast. The night before, the three-term lawmaker was forced into a primary runoff with gun rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera, which is scheduled for May 26. (RELATED: Texas GOP Incumbent Tony Gonzales Advances To GOP Runoff Amid Staffer Sex Scandal And Suicide Tragedy)
“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Salise, Whip Tom Emmer and Chairwoman Lisa McClain wrote in a joint statement. “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. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election.”
The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into the allegations the morning after Gonzales’ primary election.
This needed to be said. pic.twitter.com/EVbrgBAFIk
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) March 5, 2026
“I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgement,” Gonzales said on the podcast, adding he’s “reconciled” with his wife and asked God for forgiveness.
President Donald Trump has not yet pulled his endorsement of Gonzales from before the scandal broke.
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