Executive Summary
- Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) faces resignation calls from GOP colleagues over an alleged affair.
- Leaked text messages reportedly involve a staffer who died last year.
- Reps. Boebert, Gill, and Luna have urged Gonzales to drop out of the Texas primary.
- The scandal has emerged one week before the scheduled primary election.
WASHINGTON — Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing a coordinated effort from fellow Republican lawmakers urging him to withdraw from his re-election campaign following the publication of text messages allegedly revealing an affair with a now-deceased staff member.
The controversy intensified on Monday, just one week before Gonzales is scheduled to face a primary election in Texas. The newly surfaced messages are reported to be of a sexual nature and involve a former aide who died last year. The disclosure has prompted immediate backlash from within the House GOP conference, with several members publicly demanding Gonzales step aside.
Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) became the first House Republican to explicitly call for his resignation, posting "Resign!" on social media platforms. The sentiment was echoed by Representative Brandon Gill, a fellow member of the Texas delegation. "America deserves better. Tony should drop out of the race," Gill stated in a public post. Additionally, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has called on the broader Republican caucus to publicly condemn Gonzales.
Electoral Implications
The release of these messages days before a contested primary represents a significant threat to Gonzales’ political survival and highlights deepening fractures within the House Republican conference. With calls for resignation coming from high-profile conservative members, the situation poses a challenge for House leadership regarding party unity and candidate support during the critical 2026 midterm cycle.
