Lead: U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas declined Tuesday to step down amid growing Republican demands after a report that he had an alleged affair with a former staffer who later died by self-immolation. The calls for his resignation came from several GOP colleagues as Gonzales faces a competitive Republican primary on March 3 and holds one of the party’s narrow House majorities. Gonzales said he will not resign and argued that investigators must be allowed to develop the facts. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would speak with Gonzales and urged investigators to take the allegations seriously while the process unfolds.
Key Takeaways
- Calls for resignation came Tuesday from Reps. Thomas Massie (KY), Lauren Boebert (CO), Anna Paulina Luna (FL) and Nancy Mace (SC) following a report alleging an affair between Gonzales and a former staffer.
- Gonzales confirmed he will not resign; he said he has been the target of blackmail and “coordinated political attacks,” and asked for a full accounting of facts.
- The alleged former staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, 35, died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire in her Uvalde backyard; the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by self-immolation.
- Gonzales narrowly beat primary challenger Brandon Herrera by fewer than 400 votes in a 2024 GOP runoff and faces Herrera again in the March 3 primary; Herrera has a large YouTube following (about 4.2 million subscribers).
- Republicans hold a 217-214 House majority now; a resignation would leave that slim edge in place until March, when a special election in Georgia is scheduled among several to fill vacancies.
- The San Antonio Express-News reported obtaining text messages alleging the affair; the Associated Press has not independently obtained those messages.
- An email from the staffer’s husband’s attorney referenced a possible settlement with a nondisclosure agreement and a maximum recoverable amount of $300,000; the attorney for Adrian Aviles said the husband learned of the alleged affair before his wife’s death.
Background
Tony Gonzales represents a sprawling West Texas district that runs from San Antonio to El Paso and along the U.S.-Mexico border. He won a close 2024 GOP runoff by fewer than 400 votes over Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and online influencer known as “the AK Guy” who has roughly 4.2 million YouTube subscribers. That narrow victory has left Gonzales politically vulnerable as he approaches the March 3 Republican primary rematch.
The GOP’s House majority is thin, with Republicans holding a 217-214 edge at the moment; any vacancy or resignation could change the operational dynamics in Washington until special elections are held. In that context, allegations involving sitting members can prompt swift calls for accountability from colleagues and pressure for public disclosures from the House Ethics process.
Main Event
The controversy intensified after the San Antonio Express-News reported that it obtained text messages in which the former staffer, identified as Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, wrote that she had an affair with Gonzales. The Associated Press has not independently secured those messages. Santos-Aviles died in September 2025 after setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde; the Bexar County Medical Examiner later ruled the death a suicide by self-immolation.
On Tuesday, Representatives Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna and Nancy Mace publicly urged Gonzales to resign immediately. Massie demanded action in a social post and urged former President Donald Trump to withdraw his December endorsement of Gonzales. Mace separately introduced a measure to compel the House Ethics Commission to release reports and records related to sexual harassment allegations against members.
Gonzales responded to reporters that he will not step down and said the public has not yet seen all the facts. He has posted on social media that he was being blackmailed and later suggested he is the target of coordinated political attacks. The allegation of blackmail references an email from the husband’s attorney discussing a potential settlement and a nondisclosure agreement, with a stated maximum recoverable sum of $300,000.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he planned to speak with Gonzales and reiterated that allegations must be taken seriously while investigators are allowed to work. Johnson warned against rushing to judgment, noting the need for a full and fair review before definitive action is taken.
Analysis & Implications
Politically, the timing is consequential: Gonzales faces a March 3 primary in a district that is competitive within Republican ranks. A sustained controversy could depress his support among swing GOP voters or energize Herrera’s base, altering the primary outcome. Given the margin of his 2024 runoff victory, even modest shifts in turnout or endorsements could matter.
Institutionally, the situation raises questions about how Congress handles sensitive allegations against members. Calls to force public release of Ethics Commission records reflect frustration with perceived opacity; however, the Ethics process can be lengthy and legally constrained. If the commission opens a formal inquiry, it may take weeks or months before findings are public.
Legally, the references to a possible settlement and a $300,000 cap are notable but do not by themselves establish wrongdoing. Settlement talks, nondisclosure agreements and threatened litigation are common features of disputes; whether any civil claim proceeds depends on available evidence, statutes of limitation and legal strategy. Criminal exposure would require proof of a separate illegal act tied to the alleged conduct.
Nationally, the episode could affect the GOP’s messaging on ethics and personal conduct, especially as Republicans hold a narrow House majority. How party leaders balance due process, public expectations and short-term political calculations will shape institutional norms and may influence the party’s standing with voters ahead of future contests.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Figure/Date |
|---|---|
| Gonzales margin in 2024 GOP runoff | Fewer than 400 votes |
| GOP House majority (current) | 217-214 |
| Former staffer’s age at death | 35 (died September 2025) |
| Reported maximum settlement amount | $300,000 |
| Next GOP primary for Gonzales | March 3, 2026 |
The narrow runoff margin and thin House majority underscore why the allegations have immediate political salience. A resignation or a successful primary challenge could shift congressional arithmetic or local representation. The $300,000 figure cited in correspondence is a capped civil-recovery claim in settlement discussions and does not equate to an admission of liability.
Reactions & Quotes
Several lawmakers publicly demanded resignation; their remarks reflect both political pressure and calls for transparency. House leaders emphasized procedural fairness while acknowledging the seriousness of the report.
“If the accusation of something is going to be the litmus for someone being able to continue to serve in the House, a lot of people would have to resign or be removed or expelled from Congress.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (paraphrased)
Johnson said on Monday that accusations must be taken seriously but that investigations should be allowed to proceed so all facts can emerge. He also said he planned to speak with Gonzales directly about the matter.
“Where are the other men in the GOP?”
Rep. Thomas Massie (social post)
Massie’s comment was part of a social post urging Trump to withdraw his December endorsement of Gonzales. Massie and other Republican critics framed their calls as a test of accountability within the conference.
“There will be opportunities for all of the details and facts to come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales (to reporters)
Gonzales has characterized some reporting as incomplete and asserted that he is a target of blackmail and coordinated attacks. He also publicly stated he will not resign.
Unconfirmed
- The Associated Press has not independently obtained the text messages the San Antonio Express-News reported having—those messages remain unverified by AP.
- Claims that a settlement demand or settlement offer was the basis for “blackmail” remain contested and part of competing public statements rather than proven fact.
- Any suggestion of criminal culpability tied to the alleged affair has not been substantiated by law enforcement or presented in a public legal filing.
Bottom Line
The immediate outcome is political rather than legal: Gonzales is standing firm as several Republican colleagues press for his resignation, while party leaders call for a full review. With a March 3 primary rematch looming and a slim House majority at stake, the situation will likely play out on both local and national political stages in the coming weeks.
Key developments to watch include whether the House Ethics Committee opens a formal inquiry or whether any civil claim is filed publicly, how local primary voters respond on March 3, and whether party leaders or the Trump campaign change their stances. Until more records are released or investigators provide findings, many central questions will remain unresolved.
Sources
- Associated Press (news agency) — original report and coverage
- San Antonio Express-News (local news report) — reporting on alleged text messages and local coverage