Tony Gonzales
Meet Tony Gonzales, a U.S. Congressman whose political journey is as expansive as the 800 miles of U.S.-Mexico border he represents. As a moderate Republican from Texas, his voting record often diverges from his party's most conservative factions, leading to both significant bipartisan action and considerable internal party friction. His unique blend of military discipline and pragmatic political independence offers a compelling look at modern American governance. Tony Gonzales, a former Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, brings a unique blend of military discipline and pragmatic moderation to Congress. His willingness to cross party lines on key issues, such as gun safety and marriage equality, has earned him both bipartisan praise and censure from his own state party. Representing a vast border district, Gonzales's policy positions are heavily influenced by national security, immigration challenges, and the complex needs of his diverse constituents.
AI Summary
Meet Tony Gonzales, a U.S. Congressman whose political journey is as expansive as the 800 miles of U.S.-Mexico border he represents. As a moderate Republican from Texas, his voting record often diverges from his party's most conservative factions, leading to both significant bipartisan action and considerable internal party friction. His unique blend of military discipline and pragmatic political independence offers a compelling look at modern American governance.
- Tony Gonzales, a former Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, brings a unique blend of military discipline and pragmatic moderation to Congress.
- His willingness to cross party lines on key issues, such as gun safety and marriage equality, has earned him both bipartisan praise and censure from his own state party.
- Representing a vast border district, Gonzales's policy positions are heavily influenced by national security, immigration challenges, and the complex needs of his diverse constituents.
Representing the Lone Star State
Ernest Anthony Gonzales II, known widely as Tony Gonzales, has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district since 2021. This vast district is unlike many others, encompassing over 800 miles of the challenging U.S.-Mexico border — a critical stretch that shapes much of his legislative focus.
A Republican with a Moderate Stripe
Gonzales quickly became known as a moderate voice within the Republican Party. His willingness to collaborate across the aisle has led him to vote for proposals that sometimes put him at odds with more conservative colleagues, carving out a distinct political identity.
For instance, he supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a significant piece of gun safety legislation. He also voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which codified protections for same-sex and interracial marriage, demonstrating his independent streak on social issues.
These votes, along with his opposition to certain House rules packages and a Border Safety and Security Act favored by many Texas Republicans, didn't come without consequences. The Texas Republican Party actually censured him, a rare and serious rebuke from his own state party.
From Humble Beginnings to Higher Education
Gonzales's early life saw him move across several Texas towns, including San Antonio, Devine, and Camp Wood. This diverse upbringing likely offered him a firsthand understanding of the varied communities within his future district.
He also embarked on an impressive academic journey, earning multiple degrees while serving his country. His educational path includes an Associate of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, a graduate certificate in legislative studies from Georgetown, and a Master of Arts. He is currently pursuing a PhD, specializing in international development, security, and politics.
Two Decades of Service: A Navy Veteran
Before entering the political arena, Gonzales dedicated 20 years to the United States Navy, retiring with the distinguished rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. His career was marked by specialized service as a cryptologist—a code-breaker—deploying to critical theaters like Iraq and Afghanistan.
His military career saw him stationed across the U.S. and overseas, including Florida, Hawai'i, and San Antonio. He even served a crucial assignment with the U.S. Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, providing an early taste of the legislative process.
Following his naval retirement, Gonzales continued his public service journey as a Department of Defense fellow in Senator Marco Rubio's office. He also shared his expertise by serving as an assistant professor of political science at the University of Maryland, blending his practical experience with academic instruction.
Path to Congress
2020: An Upset Victory
In 2020, Gonzales set his sights on Texas's 23rd congressional district, a seat left open by the retiring Republican incumbent Will Hurd. Despite forecasters favoring Democrats to flip the district, Gonzales secured a narrow victory against Democratic nominee Gina Ortiz Jones, commencing his term in January 2021.
2024: A Challenging Re-election
The 2024 election cycle proved particularly arduous for Gonzales due to his moderate voting record. He faced a stiff primary challenge from a more conservative opponent, Brandon Herrera, garnering only 45% of the initial primary vote and forcing a runoff.
The runoff became a battleground, with establishment-allied Super PACs pouring over $4 million into TV advertising to support Gonzales. Despite significant spending by his challenger, Gonzales ultimately won the runoff with a narrow 50.7% of the vote, highlighting the intense intra-party divisions.
After securing his primary win, Gonzales went on to decisively defeat his Democratic challenger, S. Limon, in the general election, earning a third term in Congress. He captured 62.3% of the vote, triumphing by over 71,000 votes.
Key Congressional Votes and Stances
During his tenure, Gonzales has navigated some of the most politically charged issues of our time. He voted against impeaching President Trump after January 6th, advocating for national healing, but later joined Democrats and 34 other Republicans in voting to establish the January 6th commission.
He voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, aligning with his Republican colleagues. On the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, he initially voted no, stating it led to 'more spending for the Democrats.' However, he later published a press release taking credit for a $75 million investment from the bill in his district.
His moderate stance continued to spark controversy, notably in March 2023 when the Texas Republican Party officially censured him. This followed his support for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Respect for Marriage Act, and his vote against a House rules package.
In an April 2024 CNN appearance, Gonzales passionately defended his record against conservative primary challengers, calling them 'real scumbags' who 'walk around with white hoods' and labeling his primary opponent a 'neo-Nazi' and an 'anarchist.' This fiery exchange came after he supported crucial bipartisan foreign aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and East Asia.
Committee and Caucus Memberships
Congressman Gonzales serves on the influential Committee on Appropriations, a key assignment for shaping federal spending. Within this committee, he sits on subcommittees vital to his district and national interests.
Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
He also engages in several caucuses that reflect his bipartisan tendencies and policy interests, aiming to find common ground on pressing national issues.
Climate Solutions Caucus Problem Solvers Caucus Republican Study Committee
Policy Priorities
Abortion
Gonzales identifies as pro-life and has supported legislation such as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021. This bill aims to permanently codify the Hyde Amendment, preventing federal funds from being used for abortions.
Cybersecurity
Given his cryptology background, cybersecurity is a top priority for Gonzales. He has championed increased funding for Texan infrastructure, emphasizing the need to protect against cyberterrorism and ransomware attacks.
Foreign Policy
In foreign affairs, Gonzales has shown strong support for international allies. During the Russo-Ukrainian War, he advocated for providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and he voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack.
Gun Rights
While generally supportive of Second Amendment rights, Gonzales's position on gun control has nuances. He opposed a proposed red flag law provision in the National Defense Authorization Act, arguing it could infringe on constitutional rights.
However, after the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, located within his district, Gonzales voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He cited his own experience growing up in an abusive household, where his father threatened his mother with a gun, as a deeply personal reason for his support.
Immigration
With his district on the U.S.-Mexico border, immigration policy is central to Gonzales's work. He advocates for keeping Title 42 expulsion in place and has called for increased immigration judges to process asylum cases more efficiently, aiming for 'days, not years'.
He supported the 'Remain in Mexico' policy as an effective deterrent against illegal immigration and asylum fraud, arguing that its repeal contributed to tragic events like the 2022 San Antonio trailer deaths. He also supports expanding and simplifying work visas to reform legal immigration pathways.
LGBT Issues
Gonzales has taken notable stances on LGBT issues, particularly with his vote for the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022. This legislation repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, requiring states to recognize marriages performed in other states and codifying same-sex marriage into federal law.
In another significant move in June 2024, Gonzales was the only Republican to vote against an amendment that would prohibit Tricare and the Department of Defense from covering gender transition surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender individuals.
Fiscal Responsibility
True to his independent approach, Gonzales was one of 71 Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House, indicating his willingness to challenge even significant bipartisan compromises if they don't align with his principles.
Personal Life and Electoral History
Outside of politics, Tony Gonzales is a devoted family man, a Roman Catholic, married to Angel, and together they have six children. Angel has also played an active role in his campaigns, serving as treasurer.
Article
Tony Gonzales
Ernest Anthony Gonzales II (born October 10, 1980) is an American politician and United States Navy veteran who has served since 2021 as the U.S. representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.
A moderate Republican, Gonzales was censured by the Texas Republican Party in 2023 for voting in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He is also one of 18 Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House all three times, and the only Republican to have voted against the House rules package afterwards.
Gonzales's votes prompted several conservative primary challengers in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinTexas#District23), most notably YouTuber Brandon Herrera, who forced a runoff after Gonzales received less than 50% of the vote. He won the runoff election with 50.7% of the vote.
In 2026, it was revealed that Gonzales had an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide by self-immolation. Gonzales initially ran for re-election and denied the allegations. After failing to secure more than 50% of the vote in the primary on March 3, he was set to face Brandon Herrera in a runoff scheduled for May 2026. On March 4, he admitted to the affair. On March 5, he ended his re-election campaign amid pressure from party leadership.
Early life and education
Tony Gonzales
Gonzales was raised in San Antonio, Texas. He earned an Associate of Arts from Chaminade University of Honolulu, a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior University, a graduate certificate in legislative studies from Georgetown University, and a Master of Arts from American Public University. He is a PhD candidate in international development at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Early career
Tony Gonzales
From 1999 to 2019, Gonzales served in the United States Navy, retiring with the rank of master chief petty officer. A trained Cryptologist Interpretive (CTI), Gonzales was deployed as aircrew in VQ EP-3Es to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan receiving an air medal for his service. He was also stationed in Tampa, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Kāneʻohe Bay; and San Antonio, and assigned to the United States Navy Office of Legislative Affairs.
Gonzales served as a Department of Defense fellow in the office of Senator Marco Rubio and also worked as an assistant professor of political science at the University of Maryland.
U.S. House of Representatives
2020
Gonzales ran for Texas's 23rd congressional district in the 2020 election. The seat was open, as three-term Republican incumbent Will Hurd did not seek reelection. In the Republican primary, Gonzales narrowly defeated Raul Reyes after a recount. During the primary, Gonzales was endorsed by Hurd and President Donald Trump. In the November general election, Gonzales defeated Democratic nominee Gina Ortiz Jones. The result was considered an upset, as most forecasters believed that the Democrats were favored to flip the district after Hurd announced his retirement.
2022
Gonzales ran for re-election in 2022, winning his primary with 78% of the vote and the general election with 55.87% against Democrat John Lira and Independent candidate Frank Lopez Jr.
2024
2024 GOP primary results by county: 30–40% Gonzales 40–50% Gonzales 50–60% Gonzales 60–70% Gonzales
2024 GOP primary runoff results by county: Gonzales Herrera
Gonzales was reelected to a third term in 2024. Gonzales faced a strong primary challenge from Brandon Herrera. He won the Republican primary over his primary challenger Brandon Herrera by fewer than 400 votes with 50.6% of the ballots cast. To secure Gonzales' victory, several establishment-allied super PACs put more than $4 million in TV advertising. Herrera spent $1.3 million on TV ads compared to Gonzales' $1.9 million.
After facing down conservative opposition over his votes in Congress, Gonzales garnered 62.3% of the vote in the general election, defeating Democratic challenger Santos Limon by over 71,000 votes.
Tenure
Gonzales voted against impeaching Trump after the events of January 6, 2021, saying that the nation needed to heal and that he looked forward to working with President Biden to do that.
Like all other Senate and House Republicans, Gonzales voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
On May 19, 2021, Gonzales was one of 35 Republicans to join all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6, 2021 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
On March 4, 2023, the Texas Republican Party's executive committee censured Gonzales for failing to vote in line with the party positions, citing his decision to support the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Respect for Marriage Act (both in 2022) as well as his vote against a House rules packages passed after the contested 2023 Speaker election. Conservative representatives such as Matt Gaetz and Bob Good endorsed Brandon Herrera, a primary challenger to Gonzales for the 2024 election, who Gonzales blasted during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union in April 2024. He called them "real scumbags" who "walk around with white hoods", and called his primary opponent a "neo-Nazi" and an "anarchist" intent on "burning the place down." This came after Gonzales voted in favor of three contentious foreign aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and East Asia, all of which required bipartisan backing to move on.
Affair with political aide
On February 17, 2026, the San Antonio Express-News published text messages allegedly from Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, a political aide to Gonzales, to another staffer. In the text messages from April 2025, Santos-Aviles wrote that she had an affair with Gonzales in 2024.
According to her husband, Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles confessed to the affair on May 29, 2024, one day after Gonzales's victory in the 2024 Republican primary. Aviles told media outlets that his wife had a sexual relationship with Gonzales for two to three weeks before he caught her, and she admitted the affair. Following this, Aviles asked his wife to quit her job, but she refused. Aviles then confronted Gonzales and his campaign about the affair, which led to Santos-Aviles being treated like a black sheep at work. The couple later separated, and Santos-Aviles fell into depression. Aviles stated that she threatened to kill herself in August 2025 before her suicide, but police arrived and found "nothing of concern."
On September 13, 2025, Santos-Aviles poured gasoline on herself, outside of her home in Uvalde, and self-immolated. She died the following day at the Brooke Army Medical Center. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Bexar County medical examiner in November 2025. Police stated that video footage showed that Santos-Aviles was home alone at the time of the incident, and no foul play was suspected. A lawyer for Santos-Aviles' husband stated that her affair with Gonzales was an "open secret", and was not believed to have played a role in her suicide. The Daily Mail had previously reported on the alleged affair, though the story was denied by Gonzales at the time. According to Santos-Aviles' mother, her last words were "I don't want to die". Her funeral was held on September 25, 2025; Gonzales did not attend.
In an official response to the publication of the text messages, Gonzales blamed primary opponent Brandon Herrera for the story's publishing, while declining to answer questions about the alleged affair. Several conservatives, including Herrera and Wesley Virdell, subsequently called on Gonzales to resign; while the San Antonio Express-News revoked their endorsement of Gonzales. The White House, which had endorsed Gonzales in the upcoming 2026 Republican primary, declined to comment.
On February 23, 2026, the San Antonio Express-News published alleged text messages sent from Gonzales to Santos-Aviles, where Gonzales asked for a "sexy pic" and about her favorite sexual positions. Following this, Republican House representatives including Lauren Boebert, Tim Burchett, Brandon Gill, Kevin Kiley, Anna Paulina Luna, Nancy Mace, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy variously called on Gonzales to resign or drop his re-election bid; as well as The Dallas Morning News. Conversely, Republicans including House Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as representatives Jim Jordan and Don Bacon did not call on Gonzales to resign. NBC News also reported that the Office of Congressional Conduct concluded an investigation into the matter, but is not scheduled to submit a report until after the primary ends.
Despite calls from congressional members, Gonzales announced that he had no intention to resign, saying: "There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you've seen is not all the facts."
On March 4, 2026, Gonzales admitted for the first time, in an interview with Joe Pags, that he had an affair with Santos-Aviles.
On March 5, 2026, House GOP leadership (Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and House Republican Conference chairwoman Lisa McClain) released a joint statement in which they called for Gonzales to withdraw from his re-election campaign and stated that an investigation into Gonzales's conduct has begun. Later that same day, Gonzales announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he was ending his campaign.
Committee assignments
• Committee on Appropriations • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Caucus memberships
• Climate Solutions Caucus • Problem Solvers Caucus • Republican Study Committee
Political positions
Abortion
Gonzales describes himself as pro-life. He co-sponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021 (H.R. 18), which aims to codify the Hyde Amendment banning federal funding for abortions.
Foreign policy
During the Russo-Ukrainian War, Gonzales signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Gonzales voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Gonzales proposed a new Iranian Campaign Service Medal for Operation Midnight Hammer for the pilots and support personnel of the aircraft involved. In June 2025 he filed H.R. 4254 Iranian Campaign Medal Act that expanded eligibility to the entire Iran-Israel War.
Gun rights
Gonzales supported amending the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act to remove a proposed red flag law provision. He and other House Republicans signed a letter that argued the provision would infringe on Second Amendment rights and allow "military judges and magistrates to issue military court gun confiscation orders."
After the Robb Elementary School shooting in Gonzales's congressional district, Gonzales voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and cited his experience growing up in an abusive household (including an instance of his father threatening his mother with a gun) as his reason for supporting the act.
Immigration
Gonzales supports keeping Title 42 expulsion in place and, along with senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra arguing that the removal of Title 42 would encourage illegal immigration at the southern border.
In 2022, Gonzales argued that while the Remain in Mexico policy enacted by the Trump administration had flaws, it had been an effective strategy to prevent illegal immigration and asylum fraud and that repealing laws on illegal immigration and off-soil asylum processing had led to cases such as the trailer deaths in San Antonio earlier that year. In response to the repeal of the Remain in Mexico policy under Biden, Gonzales called for an increase in immigration judges to process asylum cases "in days, not years." He supports the expansion and simplification of work visas to reform legal immigration.
LGBT issues
On July 19, 2022, Gonzales and 46 other House Republicans voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act. It would require each state to recognize any marriage performed in another state, and codify same-sex marriage and Obergefell v. Hodges into federal law. It was signed into law by President Biden on December 13, 2022.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Gonzales was among 71 House Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Personal life
Tony Gonzales
Gonzales and his wife, Angel, have six children. Angel served as the treasurer and custodian of records for Gonzales's campaign. He is Catholic.
Electoral history
Tony Gonzales
<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Tony Gonzales</td><td>149,395</td><td>50.6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Gina Ortiz Jones</td><td>137,693</td><td>46.6</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Libertarian</td><td>Beto Villela</td><td>8,369</td><td>2.8</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>295,457</td><td>100</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican hold</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Tony Gonzales (incumbent)</td><td>116,649</td><td>55.8</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>John Lira</td><td>80,947</td><td>38.7</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td>Frank Lopez Jr.</td><td>11,180</td><td>5.3</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>208,776</td><td>100.0</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican hold</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Tony Gonzales (incumbent)</td><td>180,720</td><td>62.30</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic</td><td>Santos Limon</td><td>109,373</td><td>37.70</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>290,093</td><td>100.00</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican hold</td></tr></tbody></table>