By Olivia Beavers

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tony Gonzales (R., Texas) said Thursday that he wouldn't seek re-election, hours after top Republican House leaders asked him to drop his re-election bid and a day after he admitted to having an affair with an aide who later killed herself.

"After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress," he said in a short statement on X. "I will continue fighting for my constituents."

House Republican leaders earlier in the day asked Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election, they said in a statement, citing what they called "very serious" allegations against him. The statement was released two days after Gonzales advanced to a runoff in the Texas GOP primary despite the scandal plaguing his campaign.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.), who endorsed Gonzales last year, was joined on the statement by Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan. The statement came a day after the House Ethics Committee said it is conducting an investigation into the Texas Republican's conduct. The leaders asked the committee to act quickly to resolve the case.

The statement didn't ask for him to resign his seat immediately. House Republicans currently have a 218-214 majority in the chamber, where every GOP vote counts.

In an interview Wednesday on Joe Pags's show, Gonzales acknowledged the affair but said the death of the aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, wasn't his fault. She died in September after lighting herself on fire.

"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," Gonzales said. "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," he said.

Gonzales, a Navy veteran who is serving his third term in the House, hadn't previously admitted the affair. As the allegations came to light, the married father of six faced growing calls from his Republican colleagues to drop his re-election bid or resign altogether owing to the allegations. The interview, rather than clearing the air, prompted even more of his GOP colleagues to call on Gonzales to drop out of the race.

"Given it's no longer an allegation, and that he's admitted to abusing his position as a Member of Congress to engage in an affair with his staffer, Rep. Tony Gonzales must drop his bid for reelection to Congress, " Rep. Josh Brecheen (R., Okla.) wrote on X.

Gonzales faced Brandon Herrera for the GOP nomination. Herrera, a firebrand YouTuber known as the AK guy, had also called Gonzales to drop out of the race.

Write to Olivia Beavers at Olivia.Beavers@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 06, 2026 00:05 ET (05:05 GMT)

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