Republican 'Absolutist' Poised to Win Texas Congressional Seat After Incumbent's Departure

Brendan Herrera, a self-described gun rights advocate, emerges as the GOP frontrunner in a sprawling border district.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The abrupt decision by U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales to not seek reelection has cleared the path for Brendan Herrera, a self-described gun rights 'absolutist,' to secure the Republican nomination in Texas' 23rd congressional district. Herrera, a 30-year-old who gained notoriety posting videos of himself shooting weapons, lost a close contest to Gonzales two years ago but forced him into a runoff in the recent primary. Democrats hope to cast Herrera as a fringe figure, but face an uphill battle in the deep-red district.

Why it matters

The 23rd congressional district is one of the largest in the country and has long been a battleground, but was redrawn in 2021 to be more Republican-leaning. Gonzales' departure and Herrera's rise as the GOP frontrunner could solidify Republican control of the seat, even as Democrats try to portray Herrera as an extremist candidate.

The details

Herrera moved to Texas from North Carolina in 2020 and built a large social media following with his gun-focused YouTube videos. He describes himself as a 'Second Amendment Absolutist' and has faced criticism for comments about the Holocaust, including referring to a German submachine gun as the 'original ghetto blaster.' Herrera also sharply criticized Gonzales' support for gun safety legislation after the Uvalde school shooting. Democrats have nominated attorney and former schoolteacher Katy Padilla Stout to challenge Herrera, but Republicans are confident the district will remain in GOP hands.

  • Gonzales dropped out of the race on Thursday night (March 7, 2026).
  • The primary election was held on Tuesday (March 5, 2026).

The players

Brendan Herrera

A 30-year-old self-described gun rights 'absolutist' who gained notoriety posting videos of himself shooting weapons and is now the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in Texas' 23rd congressional district.

Tony Gonzales

The incumbent U.S. Representative for Texas' 23rd congressional district who decided not to seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide.

Katy Padilla Stout

The Democratic nominee for Texas' 23rd congressional district, an attorney and former schoolteacher.

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What they’re saying

“I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision. I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves.”

— Brendan Herrera

“Parents I talk to in #TX23, particularly those in Uvalde, are disgusted that this man could represent our families in Congress.”

— Katy Padilla Stout (Social media)

What’s next

The Republican Party will likely take a close look at whether to support Herrera as their nominee, given concerns about his controversial comments and the potential 'headache' he could cause during a difficult midterm election cycle.

The takeaway

Herrera's rise as the GOP frontrunner in this sprawling border district highlights the continued influence of hardline gun rights advocates within the Republican Party, even as Democrats hope to cast him as an extremist candidate out of step with the district's voters.