NEW: GOP Leadership Orders Congressman To Drop His Re-Election Bid

House GOP leadership is calling on Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) to suspend his re-election campaign after he admitted to having an extramarital affair with a staffer, who later committed suicide by setting herself on fire.

The request was made amid an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee into the matter.

“The Ethics Committee has announced an investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales’s conduct, and we urge them to act expeditiously. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election,” senior House leaders Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and others announced Thursday.

The statement does not call for Gonzales to resign his current congressional seat.

Gonzales acknowledged the relationship during a March 4 interview on the conservative radio program “The Joe Pags Show.”

“I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions,” he said after weeks of speculation over the reports. “

Since then, I’ve reconciled with my wife, Angel. I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has, and my faith is as strong as ever.”

The former staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, who worked as a regional director in Gonzales’ district office, died by suicide in September 2025. Reports indicate that Santos-Aviles had confided in a colleague about the relationship in 2024, including a text message screenshot in which she referenced an “affair with our boss.”

Gonzales has stated that he had not spoken with her for a year prior to her death and has denied any responsibility for her suicide.

The fallout includes the House Ethics Committee’s announcement that it would investigate whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct toward an individual employed in his congressional office or dispensed special favors or privileges unfairly. Several Republican colleagues have called for Gonzales to resign his seat, with statements from figures such as Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) urging resignation or accountability.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has indicated support for potential expulsion proceedings if warranted, citing House rules prohibiting sexual relationships with staff under supervision.

The developments occur as Gonzales faces a tight runoff election in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.

In the Republican primary on March 3, Gonzales received approximately 42% of the vote, while challenger Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist and social media personality, received about 43%. Neither candidate reached the 50% threshold required to win outright under Texas law, advancing both to a runoff scheduled for May 26, 2026.

This marks the second consecutive cycle featuring a runoff between Gonzales and Herrera. In 2024, Gonzales won by a narrow margin.

The timing of the scandal reports, which gained attention during the primary period, contributed to the close results and increased pressure on Gonzales’ campaign. The district, which spans from San Antonio to El Paso, has been competitive within Republican circles due to policy differences and internal party dynamics.

The Democrat nominee, Katy Padilla Stout, advanced outright from her primary and will face the Republican runoff winner in the November general election.

As of this report, Gonzales has not publicly indicated whether he will comply with the leadership’s request to withdraw from the race. The ethics investigation remains ongoing, and its outcome could further influence the political situation.