House Republican leaders have asked Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to suspend his re-election campaign amid an Ethics Committee inquiry.
Leadership Request and Investigation
Senior House leaders Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and others announced the request on Thursday and urged the Ethics Committee to act expeditiously in a statement that was announced publicly.
The leadership statement did not call for Gonzales to resign his current congressional seat.
Gonzales’s Response
Gonzales acknowledged the relationship during a March 4 interview on the conservative radio program “The Joe Pags Show.”
He said he made a mistake, had a lapse in judgment, and took full responsibility for those actions.
He also said he has reconciled with his wife, Angel, has asked God for forgiveness, and that his faith remains strong.
Details Surrounding the Former Staffer
The former regional director, Regina Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in September 2025 after reports that she had confided in a colleague in 2024 about an “affair with our boss.”
Gonzales has stated he had not spoken with her for a year prior to her death and has denied any responsibility for her suicide.
The House Ethics Committee announced it will investigate whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct with a staffer or granted special favors or privileges unfairly.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
Several Republican colleagues, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna, and Nancy Mace, have called for resignation or accountability.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated support for expulsion proceedings if the investigation warrants such action under House rules prohibiting supervisory relationships with staff.
The timing of the reports contributed to a tight primary race in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.
In the March 3 Republican primary Gonzales received approximately 42 percent of the vote while challenger Brandon Herrera received about 43 percent, leading both to a runoff scheduled for May 26, 2026.
This is the second consecutive cycle featuring a runoff between Gonzales and Herrera after Gonzales narrowly prevailed in 2024.
The Democrat nominee, Katy Padilla Stout, advanced outright from her primary and will face the Republican runoff winner in the November general election.
As of this report Gonzales has not publicly indicated whether he will comply with leadership’s request to withdraw from the race and the ethics investigation remains ongoing.
Supporters and conservatives who prioritize due process may note his public statements about faith, reconciliation, and accepting responsibility while awaiting the committee’s findings.
