House GOP Leaders Ask Texas Rep. Gonzales to Withdraw from Reelection

Gonzales faces ethics probe over affair with staffer who later died by suicide

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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House GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have asked Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas to end his reelection bid amid an ethics investigation into his affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales faces a May 26 GOP runoff after finishing second in the primary, but has not yet responded to the request to withdraw from the race.

Why it matters

The request from House GOP leadership to Gonzales to drop out of the race highlights the party's efforts to distance itself from the scandal and avoid further damage to its reputation ahead of the midterm elections. The ethics probe into Gonzales' conduct also raises questions about accountability for elected officials.

The details

According to reports, Speaker Mike Johnson and the top three House Republicans have asked Rep. Tony Gonzales to end his reelection bid. This comes a day after the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Gonzales' affair with a staffer who later died by suicide. Gonzales finished second in the Texas primary and faces a May 26 GOP runoff, but has not yet responded to the request to withdraw from the race.

  • The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Gonzales' conduct on March 5, 2026.
  • The GOP primary in Texas took place on March 3, 2026, with Gonzales finishing second and advancing to a runoff on May 26, 2026.

The players

Mike Johnson

The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tony Gonzales

A Republican U.S. Representative from Texas who is facing an ethics investigation and pressure from GOP leaders to withdraw from his reelection bid.

Brandon Herrera

Gonzales' challenger in the May 26 GOP runoff election.

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What they’re saying

“House GOP leaders didn't tell Rep. Tony Gonzales to quit Congress—but they did tell him to quit running.”

— John Johnson, Author (newser.com)

What’s next

The House Ethics Committee will continue its investigation into Gonzales' conduct, and the May 26 GOP runoff election in Texas will determine whether Gonzales or Herrera will advance to the general election.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the Republican Party's efforts to distance itself from scandals and maintain its reputation ahead of the midterm elections, as well as the importance of accountability for elected officials' actions.