Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales Ends Re-Election Campaign Amid Affair Scandal and Ethics Probe
Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas announced Thursday he will not seek re-election, capping a rapid downfall triggered by his admission of an extramarital affair with a former staffer who later died by suicide. In a statement posted to X late Thursday, Gonzales said: "After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I've always had to my district." The decision follows intense pressure from House Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, who urged him to withdraw his bid just hours earlier. Gonzales had advanced to a May runoff in Texas' 23rd District GOP primary after Tuesday's election but faced mounting backlash over the scandal. On Wednesday, Gonzales publicly acknowledged for the first time having a sexual relationship with former aide Regina Santos-Aviles, calling it a "lapse in judgment" during a conservative...