GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas ends reelection bid after admitting to affair with aide : NPR

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Mariam Zuhaib/AP WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas stated late Thursday he was withdrawing from his reelection race, after having admitted an affair with a former workers member who later died by suicide, however he vowed to complete out his time period in Congress.

He had confronted calls from GOP management to finish his reelection bid, and from others in Congress to resign.

"After deep reflection and with the help of my loving household, I've determined to not search re-election," Gonzales stated in a press release posted late Thursday to X.

The transfer is the most recent in a rapidly altering scenario that surprised Capitol Hill and resulted in a Home Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct. Gonzales' resolution to bow out of the race seems to clear the sphere. On Tuesday, he had been compelled right into a Might runoff towards Brandon Herrera, a gun producer and YouTube gun-rights influencer who narrowly misplaced to him within the 2024 major.

Home Speaker Mike Johnson and the GOP management earlier Thursday had referred to as on Gonzales to withdraw from reelection after Gonzales, a day earlier, acknowledged a relationship that has upturned the political world in his dwelling state and in Washington.

"We've got inspired him to handle these very critical allegations immediately along with his constituents and his colleagues," stated Johnson, Majority Chief Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and GOP Convention Chairwoman Lisa McClain in a press release.

"Within the meantime, Management has requested Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for reelection."

Johnson, R-La., has been underneath monumental strain from his personal GOP lawmakers to take motion, and several other Republicans have already referred to as for Gonzales to step apart. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., has launched two resolutions to punish Gonzales. The primary seeks to take away him from his assignments on the Home Appropriations and Homeland Safety committees, whereas the second seeks to censure him.

Home Democratic Chief Hakeem Jeffries of New York, in the meantime, stated he would help expelling Gonzales from the Home, a uncommon step that requires a two-thirds vote from the chamber.

GOP leaders notably didn't name for Gonzales to resign from workplace as they wrestle to take care of their slim majority within the Home, which they maintain by solely a handful of seats.

Their transfer got here after Gonzales, showing on the "Joe Pags Present," was requested whether or not he had a relationship with the aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles.

Santos-Aviles, 35, died after setting herself on hearth within the yard of her dwelling in Uvalde, Texas. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Workplace later dominated her demise a suicide.

"I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was an absence of religion, and I take full duty for these actions," Gonzales stated.

The congressman, now in his third time period, had stated he wouldn't step down in response to the allegations, telling reporters lately that there can be alternatives for all the main points and information to return out.

Gonzales, a father of six, first received his seat in 2020 after retiring from a 20-year profession within the Navy that included time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Within the interview broadcast Wednesday, Gonzales stated he had not spoken to Santos-Aviles since June 2024. She died in September 2025.

"I had completely nothing to do together with her tragic passing, and actually, I used to be shocked simply as a lot as everybody else," Gonzales stated.

Gonzales went on to say he had reconciled along with his spouse, Angel, and has requested God to forgive him. He additionally stated he regarded ahead to the Ethics Committee investigation.