U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio said Monday he will resign from Congress when the House returns to session Tuesday, as bipartisan pressure over a personal scandal grows.
The Texas Republican posted the announcement on X, writing: “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.”
Gonzales, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, had already ended his reelection bid in March after admitting to an affair with a former staffer in his Uvalde office. The staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, died by suicide in September 2025. The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and whether Gonzales dispensed special favors.
There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas.
— Rep. Tony Gonzales (@RepTonyGonzales) April 13, 2026
The scandal drew national attention and prompted calls for his expulsion from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. House Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, had urged him to step aside. Gonzales had said he would serve out the remainder of his current term, which was set to end in January.
A retired Navy master chief and three-term congressman, Gonzales first won election in 2020. His sprawling district stretches from San Antonio across South and West Texas to the U.S.-Mexico border. His departure will trigger a special election under Texas law to fill the vacancy.
The move comes hours after California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell announced his own resignation from Congress amid separate sexual misconduct allegations. Gonzales’ exit will keep the House GOP’s slim majority intact in the short term.
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Gonzales, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, had already ended his reelection bid in March
Gonzales, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, had already ended his reelection bid in March
