Rep. Tony Gonzales Accused of Affair With Deceased Staffer

Gonzales' primary opponent calls for his resignation amid ethics concerns.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, has been accused of having an affair with a former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide last year. Gonzales has denied the allegations, but his primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, has called for his resignation, citing ethical misconduct and the potential risk to Republican control of the seat.

Why it matters

The allegations against Gonzales raise serious concerns about potential ethical violations and abuse of power within his congressional office. If true, the affair could jeopardize the Republican Party's hold on the 23rd Congressional District, a key battleground in the upcoming election.

The details

According to reports, an ex-staffer in Gonzales' office said Santos-Aviles had told him in 2024 that she had an affair with Gonzales. The ex-staffer provided a text message from Santos-Aviles in which she admitted to the affair. Gonzales has previously dismissed the allegations as untrue, but has now blamed his opponent Herrera for 'politicizing the death' of Santos-Aviles. Herrera has called for Gonzales to resign, stating that similar behavior in the military would lead to court-martial and dismissal from service.

  • In 2024, Santos-Aviles reportedly told an ex-staffer about the affair with Gonzales.
  • In November 2025, Gonzales publicly addressed the affair rumor for the first time in an interview with Punchbowl News.
  • On February 18, 2026, the San Antonio Express-News reported on the text message from Santos-Aviles admitting to the affair.

The players

Tony Gonzales

U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district, a Navy veteran who has held the seat since 2021.

Brandon Herrera

Gonzales' GOP primary opponent, a gun rights activist who came within 400 votes of beating Gonzales in a 2024 runoff election.

Regina Santos-Aviles

A former staffer in Gonzales' office who died by suicide in her Uvalde home last year.

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What they’re saying

“Ms. Santos-Aviles was a kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place. Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, healthcare, and rural water like never before. It's shameful that Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started. I am not going to engage in these personal smears and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans.”

— Tony Gonzales, U.S. Representative (San Antonio Express-News)

“Similar behavior in our military would lead to court-martial and dismissal from service, and we should not hold the political leaders who oversee our armed services to a lower standard than the one to which our fighting men and women are held.”

— Brandon Herrera, Gonzales' GOP Primary Opponent (San Antonio Express-News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.