Texas lawmaker urged to resign over alleged affair with staffer

February 24, 2026

Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales is under intense pressure from members of both parties to resign following revelations about alleged sexually explicit text messages with a married staffer who died by suicide in September. The staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, served as his Uvalde regional district director, and her lawyer claims the congressman's workplace conduct after their alleged affair was discovered contributed to her mental health decline. Despite calls for his immediate resignation from prominent Republicans including Lauren Boebert and Thomas Massie, Gonzales has refused to step down and denies the affair allegations, stating that not all facts have been revealed.

Who is affected

Representative Tony Gonzales (subject of allegations)
Regina Santos-Aviles (deceased staffer and alleged affair partner)
Adrian Aviles (husband of Regina Santos-Aviles)
Brandon Herrera (primary election challenger)
House Republicans (concerned about slim four-vote majority)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (managing the situation)
President Donald Trump (who endorsed Gonzales)
Republican Representatives calling for resignation: Lauren Boebert, Nancy Mace, Thomas Massie, Anna Paulina Luna
Representative Teresa Leger Fernández and Congressional Democratic Women's Caucus
Voters in Texas's 23rd Congressional District

What action is being taken

Gonzales is continuing his re-election campaign and refusing to resign
Investigations are playing out (according to Speaker Johnson)
Lawmakers have filed a resolution to preserve and publicly release records from all investigations into members of Congress for sexual harassment
Early voting is currently underway in the primary election

Why it matters

This situation matters because it involves serious allegations of workplace sexual harassment and potential abuse of power by a sitting congressman, with tragic consequences including a staffer's suicide. The case has broader implications for congressional accountability and workplace conduct standards for elected officials. Additionally, it affects the Republican Party's ability to govern effectively, as their slim four-vote House majority means losing even one member could jeopardize their capacity to pass President Trump's legislative agenda. The incident also raises questions about vetting and endorsements in Republican primaries.

What's next

Primary election will take place next week between Gonzales and Herrera
Investigations into the allegations will continue to play out
Resolution to preserve and release records from congressional sexual harassment investigations will proceed
Winner of the primary is expected to win the general election in November

Read full article from source: BBC