Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales to retire amid pressure following personal scandal
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) departs from the U.S. Capitol Building on November 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said earlier today that he expects the House to vote on U.S. President Joe
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican incumbent from Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, said he will retire from Congress.
Gonzales announced his decision on Monday afternoon, as lawmakers prepare to return to Washington.
Scandal leads to retirement
What we know:
The announcement comes weeks after Gonzales said he would not seek re-election following a personal scandal that drew national attention and prompted calls from fellow Republicans for him to exit the race.
"There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas," said Gonzales in a social media post.
Gonzales, who represents a district anchored in San Antonio, acknowledged earlier this year that he had an affair with a former staff member. The admission followed reports and mounting scrutiny tied to the death of the aide in 2025. Gonzales said at the time that he took "full responsibility" for what he described as a lapse in judgment.
GOP House leaders ask Gonzales to drop reelection bid after affair confession
Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have asked Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to drop out of his race for reelection.
Brandon Herrera and Texas' 23rd Congressional District
(Getty Images)
What's next:
With Gonzales out of the race, Republican Brandon Herrera, a firearms manufacturer and YouTube personality known as "The AK Guy," is set to become the GOP nominee for the November election. He is expected to face Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout.
Katy Padilla Stout
Recent primary results suggested a competitive general election ahead, with Democrats drawing slightly more total votes in the district than Republicans.
Gonzales said he will continue serving through the remainder of his term.
Impact on the GOP House majority
FILE - The elephant, a symbol of the Republican Party, on in a rug in the lobby of the Republican Party's headquarters in Washington. (Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)
The backstory:
House GOP leaders had urged Gonzales to step aside, and he faced the possibility of an expulsion vote in the House.
Tony Gonzales drops out of race for House reelection in Texas
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from a congressional district rooted in San Antonio, has dropped out of a runoff race for his reelection after a scandal over an affair gained national attention.
In a March statement announcing he would not run again, Gonzales cited his decades of public service, including 20 years in the military and three terms in Congress, and said he would complete his current term.
"After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district," he said.
Gonzales first won his seat during a period when Republicans made gains among Hispanic voters in South Texas. He narrowly secured renomination in 2024, defeating a Brandon Herrera by a slim margin in a runoff.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by previous FOX LOCAL coverage and from Rep. Tony Gonzales.