{"id":636713,"date":"2026-03-06T16:41:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T16:41:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/636713\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T16:41:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T16:41:18","slug":"san-antonio-u-s-rep-tony-gonzales-ends-reelection-bid-amid-pressure-over-affair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/636713\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales ends reelection bid amid pressure over affair"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"U.S.U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales smiles big during a campaign appearance. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Tony Gonzales Campaign<\/p>\n

Embattled U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales has ended his reelection bid after facing rising pressure from his own party to drop out over an affair he had with a former staff member who later died by suicide. <\/p>\n

Even so, the San Antonio Republican pledged to complete his term in Congress.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter 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\u2019ve always had in my district,\u201d Gonzales tweeted late Thursday<\/a>. \u201cThrough the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The three-term congressman didn\u2019t mention the affair in his statement, which concluded with the words \u201cGod has a plan for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tumultuous week<\/strong><\/p>\n

The announcement comes amid a tumultuous week for Gonzales, who ended up in a runoff<\/a> Tuesday to keep his seat representing Texas\u2019 border-spanning 23rd District. The lawmaker was set to face Brandon \u201cAK Guy\u201d Herrera, a YouTube gun influencer and firearms manufacturer who also forced him into a 2024 runoff. <\/p>\n

The day after the primary, Gonzales appeared on a nationally syndicated right-wing podcast, where he admitted to an extramarital affair<\/a> with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died last fall after setting herself on fire. The interview marked the first time the married father of six, owned up to the relationship. He\u2019d previously called speculation about the pair \u201ccompletely untruthful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same day as the interview, the House Ethics Committee revealed it\u2019s investigating<\/a> whether Gonzales violated rules that bar members from engaging in sexual relationships with employees and whether he showed Santos-Aviles favorable treatment.<\/p>\n

Then, on Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson and the chamber\u2019s GOP leadership asked Gonzales<\/a> to end his reelection bid, saying he should \u201caddress these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is it enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Gonzales latest move may be enough to placate Johnson for now, some in his on party have called on him to relinquish his seat. U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, also introduced two resolutions targeting Gonzales, according to the Associated Press<\/a>. The first would strip him of his assignments on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, while the second would introduce a vote to censure him. <\/p>\n

Adding to the dogpile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said he would support expelling Gonzales from the House, the Associated Press reports. That rare maneuver would require a two-thirds vote from the chamber \u2014\u00a0something unlikely given the GOP\u2019s fear of losing its four-seat majority in the upcoming midterms. <\/p>\n

Although the Cook Political Report rates the 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, as \u201cSolid Republican,\u201d political observers said the Democratic Party likely smells blood in the water over Gonzales\u2019 scandal and Herrera\u2019s history of problematic online remarks. <\/p>\n

While attorney and educator Katy Padilla Stout, the Democratic nominee, is a relative unknown, an influx of outside cash could bolster her chances in the general election.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a golden opportunity, and they will pump in tons of money to help whoever the Democratic nominee is,\u201d UT-San Antonio political scientist Jon Taylor told the Current. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tHouse Republican leaders urged the lawmaker to drop his campaign after he admitted to an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tony\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tEven so, the San Antonio congressman denied he had anything to do with the staffer\u2019s suicide and said reports on the affair were timed to sink his campaign. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Republican\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\u2018She is gone now. Her son is growing up without his mother. And Tony Gonzales is campaigning like nothing happened,\u2019 one House colleague said of the alleged affair. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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