More Republicans Call for Rep. Tony Gonzales to Resign After Alleged Affair

Some GOP members who received campaign donations from Gonzales-affiliated PAC now demand he step down

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Several Republican members of Congress, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna, and Nancy Mace, are calling for Rep. Tony Gonzales to resign or drop his re-election bid after texts revealed the Texas Republican had an alleged 'affair' with a staffer who later died by suicide. Some of the lawmakers demanding Gonzales' resignation also received campaign donations from his leadership PAC.

Why it matters

The allegations against Gonzales raise concerns about potential abuse of power and misconduct by a sitting member of Congress. The fact that some of the lawmakers calling for his resignation previously accepted donations from his PAC adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation.

The details

The texts showed Gonzales, who is married with six children, engaged in an extramarital relationship with his regional director Regina Santos-Aviles in May 2024. Santos-Aviles later died by self-immolation in September 2025, with her husband and a former colleague citing the 'affair' as a contributing factor. Gonzales has denied the allegations and accused Santos-Aviles' widower of trying to 'blackmail' him.

  • In May 2024, Gonzales allegedly engaged in an extramarital relationship with his staffer Regina Santos-Aviles.
  • On September 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles died after dousing herself in gasoline and igniting it.
  • In November 2025, the Office of Congressional Conduct began probing Gonzales over the allegations.

The players

Rep. Tony Gonzales

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas who is accused of having an affair with a staffer.

Regina Santos-Aviles

Gonzales' former regional director who died by suicide in September 2025, with her husband and a former colleague citing the alleged 'affair' as a contributing factor.

Rep. Lauren Boebert

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado who was among the first to call for Gonzales' resignation.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida who was among the first to call for Gonzales' resignation and received a campaign donation from his leadership PAC.

Rep. Nancy Mace

A Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina who was among the first to call for Gonzales' resignation and received a larger campaign donation from his leadership PAC.

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What they’re saying

“He's a disgusting pig. The speaker should do something about it.”

— Rep. Lauren Boebert (CNN)

“It's obviously going to be something that will likely impact our margins, but I don't make an excuse for what he did and I would encourage him to consider resigning.”

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (CNN)

“Given what I've seen so far, he should resign.”

— Rep. Nancy Mace (CNN)

What’s next

The Office of Congressional Conduct's investigation into Gonzales may be referred to the House Ethics Committee, which could impose punishments if he is found to have engaged in a sexual relationship with a staffer.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex dynamics when allegations of misconduct are made against a sitting member of Congress, especially when some of the lawmakers calling for their resignation have previously accepted campaign donations from the accused. It raises questions about the influence of money in politics and the need for stronger ethical standards and accountability for elected officials.