AUSTIN, Tx., February 18, 2026: In an update to a story we brought you back in November, former staffer for Tony Gonzales (R-23) who died of self-immolation after she set herself on fire had been involved in an affair with the Texas congressman before committing suicide, according to a former staffer at the congressman’s office. Gonzales represents part of El Paso.
San Antonio Express News, which has been closely following the events around this story since Regina Santos-Aviles committed suicide on September 14, 2025, reported yesterday that a former staffer in Gonzales’ office shared text messages showing that Gonzales and Santos-Aviles had been involved in a romantic relationship since 2024.
Both were married at the time.
At the time of her death, Gonzales denied having an affair with Santos-Aviles stating that the “rumor [about the affair] are completely untrue.” Rumors about an affair began circulating shortly after her death.
Gonzales is being challenged by three candidates in the upcoming Republican primaries. They are Keith Barton, Francisco “Quico” Canesco and Brandon Herrera. Herrera has been polling well against Gonzales heading into the March 3 primary. Voters polled by Political Intelligence shows Herrera leading the race with 33% to Gonzales’ 29%.
On January 27, a lawyer for the Trump campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter to Herrera telling him to cease “the unauthorized and deceptive use” of Trump’s “image and likeness” for campaign fundraising. According to the letter, Herrera sent a political mailer that “gives voters the false impression” that Trump endorsed Herrera. The letter points out that Trump endorsed Gonzales on December 8, 2025.
No word yet what impact, if any, this latest development will have on Gonzales’ campaign.
The unnamed former staffer told the San Antonio Express News that Santos-Aviles “spiraled into a depression” after her husband discovered the affair.
Santos-Aviles leaves behind an 8-year-old boy, and the child’s father.
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