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Gonzales withdraws from re-election race
Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales announced Friday he will not seek re-election, days after admitting to an affair with a former staff member who died by suicide last year.
Party leadership demanded campaign exit
Gonzales' decision follows a joint statement from top House Republicans-Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Rep. Lisa McClain-urging him to step aside. The leaders said he should address the allegations "directly with his constituents and colleagues."
Admission contradicts earlier denial
In a Wednesday interview with conservative podcaster Joe Pags, Gonzales confirmed a relationship with Regina Santos-Aviles, a married staffer. He had previously dismissed allegations as "blackmail" and a "coordinated" effort to remove him from office.
Santos-Aviles died in September 2025 after self-immolation near her Uvalde, Texas, home. The medical examiner ruled her death a suicide, CBS News reported.
Ethics probe launched
The House Ethics Committee announced an investigation Thursday into whether Gonzales "engaged in sexual misconduct" with an employee. Gonzales claimed Santos-Aviles was "thriving" at work and said her death was unrelated to their affair.
"I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing. And, in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else."
Rep. Tony Gonzales
Primary defeat preceded withdrawal
Gonzales' exit comes days after he failed to secure enough voter support in the party's primary nomination race ahead of November's congressional elections.
Support resources
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Global resources can be found at Befrienders Worldwide.
