Despite finishing second in his re-election attempt, Congressman Tony Gonzales now faces a fresh investigation over an alleged relationship with a married aide.
Gonzales did not secure 50 percent of the vote, leading to a runoff in May for his southern Texas district after last night’s primary challenge.
Although Gonzales had tentative backing from former President Donald Trump, his campaign was overshadowed by claims of an affair with Regina Aviles, a staff member who tragically died by self-immolation.
The Daily Mail first brought the alleged affair to light last year. Since then, Gonzales has denied the allegations and has been reticent about addressing the issue in recent weeks.
However, senior MAGA figures seem to be distancing themselves from Gonzales. Speaker Mike Johnson has urged him to address the accusations head-on.
“The voters have spoken,” Speaker Mike Johnson remarked to reporters on Wednesday morning. “An investigation has been announced by the OCC and the House Ethics Committee. We’ll see how that unfolds.”
It was also announced Wednesday that the bipartisan House Ethics Committee had launched an investigation into the alleged affair.
After her affair with her boss became known by her husband and Gonzales cut her off, Aviles, a married mother-of-one, doused herself with gasoline in her backyard in her home in Uvalde, Texas and set herself on fire. She died on September 14.
Congressman Tony Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The aide he allegedly had an affair with, Regina Aviles, can been seen on the right of Musk
Brandon Herrera, a Republican congressional candidate for Texas’ 23rd District, speaks during an event, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Somerset, Texas
On Tuesday, Gonzales, a three-term member of Congress, did not win the necessary 50% of votes needed for any candidate to clinch the Republican nomination for Texas’s 23rd district– instead garnering 41% of the vote.
Instead, the most votes went to Gonzales’ GOP challenger Brandon Herrera- a gun enthusiast and YouTuber with over 4.2 million followers- who won 43% of voters.
At the time of writing, Herrera has 23,747 votes to Gonzales’ 22,866.
The two will now face off in a May special election for the second time.
Herrera nearly unseated Gonzales by less than 400 votes in an election two years ago.
Gonzales has been under federal investigation since November, when the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC) started looking into accusations the elected official had had an affair with his staffer.
House Rule 23 in the Code of Official Conduct states that members of Congress may not have sexual relations with a person who works under their supervision.
Aviles served as Gonzales’s regional director in Uvalde- about two hours outside San Antonio- since November 2021.
Last week, text message sent from Aviles’ personal cell phone number to her boss’ personal cell phone, as verified by Daily Mail, were released by Aviles’ husband.
In the iPhone messages, the married father-of-six- asks his married employee for sexy pictures of herself.
Even when Aviles objected, replying ‘This is going too far,’ and reminding him he was her boss, he pressed her for her favorite sexual position.
Gonzales post this to his personal X account as news of a second federal investigation into his alleged affair broke Wednesday morning- just one day after voters denied the three-term congressman a victory at the polls
If the OCC felt there was enough evidence to move forward, it could recommend the House Ethics Committee look into the accusations in its own investigation.
Now the House will select other members to serve on a panel to lead the new probe.
‘The Committee will announce the Members who will serve on the Investigative Subcommittee once they are selected,’ the House Committee on Ethics explained in a press release Wednesday morning.
‘The Committee notes that the mere fact of establishing an Investigative Subcommittee does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.’
Gonzales did not immediately reply to Daily Mail’s request for comment.
The congressman has been dodging the media for weeks and even declined to host a campaign night party.
However, on his X account, he posted what appeared to be a picture taken while mid-air and quote from the Bible.
‘Have a blessed day #TX23,’ the accused philander posted.
‘“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1.’
