Rep. Tony Gonzales drops re-election bid amid ethics probe into his affair with a staffer
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, announced he will not seek re-election but will serve out the remainder of his term following revelations of an affair with a former aide who later died by suicide.
- Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson and other top GOP officials, urged Gonzales to withdraw from the race and called for an expedited Ethics Committee investigation into the matter.
- The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation after receiving findings from the Office of Congressional Conduct, which completed its inquiry within 60 days of Gonzales’ primary.
- Gonzales admitted to the affair in a podcast interview, took full responsibility, and stated he and his wife have reconciled.
- Gonzales was facing a runoff against pro-gun candidate Brandon Herrera,
