SAN ANTONIO \u2013 One day after admitting he had an affair with his staffer, who died by suicide, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales is dropping his bid for reelection.<\/p>\n
KSAT Investigates<\/p>\n
Hard-hitting journalism from the KSAT Investigates team delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, House Republicans urged Gonzales to drop out<\/a> of the race after the House Ethics Committee announced it would investigate Gonzales for the affair with his Uvalde-based staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles.<\/a> <\/p>\n In a social media post, Gonzales said he will serve the rest of his term in Congress.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, Gonzales said, \u201dfor whom I am eternally grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Santos-Aviles\u2019 husband\u2019s attorney said that the healing process can now begin, in a statement to KSAT.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy the truth has come out, and he\u2019s acknowledged and taken full responsibility for his errors in judgment,\u201d attorney Bobby Barrera said, \u201cand now, everyone can start healing and get this issue and problem behind them.\u201d<\/p>\n Gonzales was in a runoff against gun rights activist and YouTube personality Brandon Herrera.<\/p>\n In a statement just after midnight, Herrera said he appreciated Gonzales for making the \u201cappropriate\u201d decision.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves,\u201d Herrera said, in part. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas proud.\u201d<\/p>\n I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision.<\/p>\n I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves. From the border, to oil theft, water rights, data centers, and many other issues.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/oJMXtmwHSq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) March 6, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Herrera finished first in the March 3 primary, but neither candidate crossed the 50% vote threshold needed to avoid a runoff.<\/p>\n Gonzales, who has resisted calls for his resignation<\/a>, spent months refusing to answer<\/a> KSAT Investigates\u2019 questions about the affair, but addressed it Wednesday on conservative talk show host Joe Pags\u2019 show<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI take full responsibility for those actions,\u201d Gonzales said. \u201cSince then, I have reconciled with my wife, Angel. I\u2019ve asked God to forgive me, which he has. And my faith is as strong as ever.\u201d<\/p>\n The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday that an investigative subcommittee will determine whether Gonzales violated the code of conduct amid allegations that he \u201cengaged in sexual misconduct\u201d with his employee and \u201cdiscriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges,\u201d according to a release from Ethics Committee chairman, U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Mississippi.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to the ethics committee starting an investigation. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to provide all the facts,\u201d Gonzales said in the YouTube interview.<\/p>\n KSAT Investigates first broke the news of Santos-Aviles\u2019 Sept. 14 death<\/a> after investigators said she doused herself in gasoline and set herself on fire at her Uvalde home.<\/p>\n Last month, the Uvalde Leader-News reported<\/a> that Santos-Aviles\u2019 pay spiked in 2024, the same year she allegedly had an affair with Gonzales.<\/p>\n Her husband, Adrian Aviles, previously said<\/a> he was \u201cexhausted and tired\u201d of statements made by Gonzales in the aftermath of her death. Also in February, Aviles released sexually explicit texts sent in May 2024 between his wife and the congressman.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to stand up to him, and we\u2019re not going to allow him to bully us like he\u2019s bullied everybody else and continued to lie about it,\u201d Aviles said in an interview with CNN.<\/p>\n >>TIMELINE: Rep. Tony Gonzales\u2019 relationship with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles<\/a><\/p>\n Gonzales has said Aviles tried to blackmail him and profit off Santos-Aviles\u2019 death.<\/p>\n Barrera told KSAT in early March that Gonzales \u201cneeds to make an admission that he had a sexual affair with a subordinate.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more reporting on the KSAT Investigates page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 by KSAT – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n