Representative Tony Gonzales Will Not Seek Re-election
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Representative Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, announced he will not seek re-election following allegations that he coerced a staff member into a sexual relationship before her suicide.
- The staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, worked in Gonzales's Uvalde district office and sent messages revealing an affair with Gonzales before her death in September 2025.
- Gonzales initially denied any sexual relationship but publicly admitted to the extramarital affair amid a contentious primary race and upcoming runoff election.
- The allegations and Gonzales’s acknowledgment have sparked bipartisan criticism and raised ethical concerns under House rules.
- Gonzales plans to complete his current term with commitment to his district despite withdrawing from the re-election race.
