Rep. Gonzales Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Affair with Late Aide

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from San Antonio, faces renewed scrutiny in his reelection bid after a text message surfaced alleging an extramarital affair with one of his former aides, who died by self-immolation last year. The message, sent by Regina Santos-Aviles in April 2025, came to light this week as early voting began in the March 3 Republican primary for Texas's 23rd Congressional District.

Santos-Aviles, 35, served as a regional director in Gonzales's office and was a wife and mother of an 8-year-old boy. She died on September 13, 2025, after dousing herself with accelerant and setting herself on fire in the backyard of her home in Uvalde, Texas. A former colleague in Gonzales's district office shared the text message with investigators, in which Santos-Aviles wrote to him early on April 28, 2025: "I had an affair with our boss and I'm fine. You will be fine." The colleague, who has since left the office and now works on Democratic campaigns in California, said the relationship became known among staff during the 2024 election cycle after Santos-Aviles's husband discovered messages and shared them with local team members.

Gonzales, 45, a Navy veteran married...