Tony Gonzales drops reelection bid after pressure from GOP leadership

• The House Ethics Committee formally launched an investigation into Gonzales the morning after his March 3 primary election, which saw him headed to a runoff election.

State of play: Gonzales' departure turns the 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, into an open-seat battleground overnight without the advantage of a Republican incumbency.

• He was facing Brandon Herrera in the primary runoff. Gonzales received 41.7% of the primary vote and Herrera received 43.3%.
• The seat had been a swing seat, but the last Democrat to win was Pete Gallego in 2012.

What he's saying: "After 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've always had in my district," said Gonzales, who was first elected to the House in 2020, in a statement posted to X.

• "Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful."

Between the lines: Gonzales was mum on the affair allegations for months before Wednesday, when he called it a "lapse in judgment."

• The staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, died in September 2025.
• The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation.

The latest: Herrera posted late Thursday night on X: "I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision. I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves. From the border, to oil theft, water rights, data centers, and many other issues. It's an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas proud."

What's next: Herrera will face Katy Padilla Stout in November.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Brandon Herrera received 43.3% of the primary vote (not Tony Gonzales) and updated with a statement from Herrera.