Texas GOP Primary Roiled by Lawmaker's Alleged Affair with Aide Who Died by Suicide
A Republican lawmaker's apparent affair with an aide who later died by suicide has dramatically intensified a closely contested primary election in Texas, sparking fierce accusations and political turmoil.
Allegations and Accusations Explode in Tight Race
Representative Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, issued a statement through his office addressing the death of his former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, whom he described as "a kind soul" dedicated to her community. Gonzales directly accused his Republican primary opponent, Brandon Herrera, of exploiting this tragedy for political gain.
"It's shameful that Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started," Gonzales stated. He added that he would not engage in personal attacks and would instead focus on supporting former President Trump's border policies and helping Texans.
Tragic Details and Political Fallout Emerge
The controversy erupted after the San Antonio Express-News published a report on Tuesday featuring an unnamed former aide to Gonzales. This source claimed the congressman should have intervened to prevent Santos-Aviles' death. According to the report, the 35-year-old staffer fell into a deep depression after her husband discovered the alleged affair and Gonzales ended contact with her. She tragically died by suicide in September.
In response to rumors of a "devastating" story, Herrera posted on social media over the weekend, placing blame on Gonzales. "It's horrifically tragic that a young woman lost her life, especially under these circumstances," Herrera wrote. "But I am glad the truth is finally coming to light. I hate it when corrupt politicians like Tony are guilty of atrocious behavior and think they can lie their way out of it."
Mounting Pressure and Endorsement Withdrawal
The political pressure escalated rapidly on Tuesday when Herrera publicly called for Gonzales to resign from office. This demand echoed a similar statement from a Republican representative in the Texas legislature. In a significant blow to Gonzales' campaign, the San Antonio Express-News officially revoked its endorsement of the incumbent lawmaker.
Herrera, a YouTube personality known for firearm content who once recreated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in a video, first challenged Gonzales in 2024. He forced a runoff election that he narrowly lost. Political analysts note that Gonzales, a moderate who has occasionally broken with his party in congressional votes, would likely be a stronger candidate than Herrera in the November general election.
Conflicting Accounts and Denials
An attorney representing Santos-Aviles' husband told the Express-News that the alleged affair was considered an "open secret," but he did not believe it was the direct cause of her death. The newspaper reported obtaining text messages from Santos-Aviles that appeared to corroborate reports of a romantic relationship with Congressman Gonzales.
However, Gonzales has consistently denied these rumors. In a November interview with local station KSAT, he stated, "People throwing rocks at me, saying I'm doing nasty things — I totally get that. But the rumors are completely untruthful."
This deeply personal and tragic situation has now become a defining issue in the Republican primary, forcing voters to weigh allegations of misconduct against political tactics as early voting is underway.
