Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is under renewed scrutiny after sexually explicit text messages attributed to him and a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, became public. Several Republicans have urged him to resign, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has said investigations should proceed, as Gonzales heads into a March 3 Republican primary in Texas’ 23rd District.
The Texas Republican, Rep. Tony Gonzales, is facing escalating pressure from within his party after media outlets published sexually explicit text messages said to be between Gonzales and a former staffer, Regina Ann “Regi” Santos-Aviles.
The messages, reported by multiple outlets, include Gonzales asking Santos-Aviles to send an explicit photo and raising sexual topics. In the exchange, Santos-Aviles appears to push back at points, including telling him, “This is going too far boss,” according to CBS News.
Santos-Aviles, who worked in Gonzales’ district operation in Uvalde, died in September 2025 after suffering severe burns in an incident the Bexar County Medical Examiner later ruled a suicide by self-immolation, according to Texas news reports. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play.
As the texts circulated, several House Republicans—including Reps. Thomas Massie, Lauren Boebert, Anna Paulina Luna and Nancy Mace—called on Gonzales to resign, the Associated Press reported. Gonzales has denied wrongdoing and has previously denied having an affair, while also describing the allegations as politically motivated and alleging he has been targeted with blackmail.
Speaker Mike Johnson, asked about the controversy, has stopped short of calling for Gonzales’ resignation, saying the matter should be addressed through the investigative process and that “you have to allow investigations to play out and all the facts to come out,” according to reporting that quoted Johnson’s remarks.
The dispute is unfolding as Gonzales seeks another term and faces a competitive Republican primary on March 3. The race in Texas’ sprawling 23rd District includes challengers such as Brandon Herrera and former Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, local reporting shows.
With the House closely divided, any resignation would further tighten the Republican margin. The Associated Press reported that a Gonzales departure would reduce Republicans’ edge to 217-214 until at least upcoming special elections fill vacancies.
