• Tony Gonzales resigns from reelection after admitting to an affair with a former aide.
• House GOP leaders urged Gonzales to withdraw amid an ethics investigation.
• Gonzales called his actions a “mistake” and “lapse in judgment.”
• The aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, tragically died by suicide in September 2025.
• Gonzales intends to serve out his term in Congress despite stepping down from the race.

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales has officially announced his withdrawal from the reelection race after admitting to an affair with a staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. He stated, "After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek reelection," in a message posted to X, although he plans to finish his current term in Congress, according to BBC and CBS News.

The announcement follows substantial pressure from Republican leadership for Gonzales to end his campaign amid a House Ethics Committee investigation into his conduct. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team have stated their concerns, urging Gonzales to address "very serious allegations" directly to his constituents and colleagues, as reported by Reuters and NPR.

Gonzales previously claimed that the allegations were part of a "coordinated attack" against him, before publicly admitting the affair during a podcast interview. He characterized his actions as a "mistake" and a "lapse in judgment," stating, "I take full responsibility for those actions," according to BBC and CBS News.

The relationship with Santos-Aviles has since garnered extreme scrutiny, especially after her tragic death in September 2025 when she set herself on fire. The medical examiner ruled her death a suicide, further complicating the already troubled narrative around Gonzales, according to Reuters and CBS News.

In recent communication, Gonzales insisted that he had no role in the decline of Santos-Aviles' mental health, claiming she was "thriving" at work. The affair was further brought into the public eye through explicit text messages exchanged between the two, which have been scrutinized within the ethics investigation context. This remains a significant factor as the House Ethics Committee moves forward with its inquiry into Gonzales' actions, as detailed by CBS and NPR.