Rep. Tony Gonzales drops re-election bid amid ethics probe into his affair

The embattled Texas congressman will serve out the rest of his term.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, announced he will drop his re-election bid following a tumultuous set of weeks where he admitted to having an affair with an aide who later died by suicide. Gonzales faced calls to resign from fellow Republicans, and the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into the congressman.

Why it matters

The resignation of Rep. Gonzales amid an ethics probe and admission of an affair with a staffer raises questions about accountability and conduct within Congress, especially as the Republican party holds a razor-thin majority in the House.

The details

Gonzales had been running for re-election but failed to gain more than 50% of the vote in a Tuesday primary, forcing him into a runoff. During a podcast interview, Gonzales appeared to admit to the affair with his former aide Regina Santos-Aviles, saying he 'made a mistake' and 'had a lapse in judgment.' NBC News previously reported that Gonzales and Santos-Aviles had exchanged sexual texts in 2024, which Santos-Aviles' widower confirmed.

  • On March 6, 2026, Rep. Tony Gonzales announced he will drop his re-election bid.
  • On March 9, 2026, the House Ethics Committee announced it would open an investigation into Gonzales.

The players

Rep. Tony Gonzales

A Republican congressman from Texas who announced he will drop his re-election bid amid an ethics probe into his affair with a former aide.

Regina Santos-Aviles

A former aide to Rep. Gonzales who died by suicide, and with whom Gonzales admitted to having an affair.

Adrian Aviles

The widower of Regina Santos-Aviles, who verified the sexual text messages between his wife and Rep. Gonzales.

Mike Johnson

The House Speaker who leads the razor-thin Republican majority in the lower chamber, and who called on Gonzales to retire at the end of his term.

Brandon Herrera

A pro-gun candidate who was running against Gonzales in the Republican primary.

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What they’re saying

“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment. And there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions.”

— Rep. Tony Gonzales (Podcast interview)

What’s next

The House Ethics Committee will continue its investigation into Rep. Gonzales' conduct, and it remains to be seen if he will face any further consequences before the end of his term.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing issues of accountability and ethical conduct within Congress, especially as the Republican party holds a slim majority in the House. It raises questions about how the party will address such scandals and whether voters will demand higher standards from their elected representatives.