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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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House Republicans have called on their colleague Tony Gonzales to resign over reported sexual texts from the U.S. representative to an aide with whom he is alleged to have had an affair. The aide later died by suicide.
Gonzales, a married father-of-six who has represented Texas' 23rd district since 2021, sent lewd texts to his then-adviser Regina Santos-Aviles, according to messages revealed by her widower, Adrian Aviles, and published by the San Antonio Express-News on Monday.
Newsweek has not independently reviewed the texts and has contacted Adrian Aviles' attorney for the messages. Gonzales' office was contacted via email outside of normal office hours on Tuesday.
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Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert, of Colorado, and Nancy Mace, of South Carolina, are among those to have called on Gonzales to resign since reports of the texts emerged.
House Speaker Johnson, the Republican of Louisiana, on Monday called the accusations “very serious” and insisted any ongoing investigations should play out.
In an X post last Thursday, before the texts emerged, Gonzales alleged he was being “blackmailed” over the allegations, sharing a partial screenshot of an email from Adrian Aviles' attorney, Robert Barrera. Barrera denies the allegation.
In November, Gonzales appeared to deny the alleged affair. “The rumors are completely untruthful, and Regina’s family has asked for privacy,” he said during an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival.
Regina Santos-Aviles set herself on fire outside her home in Uvalde, Texas, and died of her injuries on September 14, 2025. She was 35 years old and the mother of an 8-year-old boy. Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide.
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Why It Matters
The alleged affair and Republican furor may affect Gonzales' fate in his upcoming Republican primary race on March 3.
Gonzales faces several challengers, including from Brandon Herrera, who narrowly lost their 2024 runoff election by 354 votes.
More widely, the GOP is clinging to a slim 218-214 majority in the U.S. House, ahead of November's midterm elections.
Under the House Code of Official Conduct, romantic relationships between members of Congress and their staff are prohibited. Breaching these rules could spark an investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
What To Know
Santos-Aviles worked for Gonzales from November 2021, his first year in office, until her death.
Newly released messages extracted from her phone by a digital forensics firm hired by Avile's lawyer, shed light on their relationship, Express-News reported.
In one April 2025 message, Aviles-Santos wrote "I had [an] affair with our boss and I'm fine," the paper reported.
In a May 2024 exchange, Gonzales asked Santos-Aviles for “a sexy pic" which she refused, according to the reported texts. "I'm just such a visual person," he reportedly wrote.
Other exchanges showed Santos-Aviles twice told Gonzales he was "going too far," including once after Gonzales asked her about her "favorite position" is, according to the texts. She asked him to answer first, and he did, before the aide texted: "This is going too far boss. So how long have you thought I was this hot?" according to the texts.
Last Thursday, Gonzales shared part of an email he said was from her widower's lawyer, writing “I WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED,” Gonzales wrote on X on Thursday. “Disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death.”
On Monday, after the texts emerged, several republicans called on Gonzales to quit.
Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert tagged Gonzales on X and wrote, "RESIGN!," quoting a tweet that showed screengrabs of the reported texts. In a separate post, she said the National Republican Congressional Committee "should now direct their spending commitments to Brandon Herrera!"
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South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace said the texts were "disgusting and inexcusable" and accused Gonzales of "harassing his own staffer in the middle of the night."
"We have ZERO tolerance for those who abuse their power over others," she wrote. "It does not matter what party you are in, what title you hold, or how powerful you think you are. You do not get a free pass. Tony Gonzales should resign immediately and be held fully accountable for what he’s done."
Marjorie Taylor Greene, the former Georgia Congresswoman, replied: "I completely agree!!"
What People Are Saying
Tony Gonzales told CBS News last week he would not "engage in these personal smears and instead remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans." He said Santos-Aviles was a "kind soul who devoted her life to making the community a better place. Her efforts led to improvements in school safety, health care, and rural water like never before."
Tony Gonzales, during an interview in November at the Texas Tribune Festival, said of Santos-Aviles' death: "People throwing rocks at me, saying I'm doing nasty thing—I totally get that," Gonzales said. "But the rumors are completely untruthful."
House Speaker Mike Johnson told NBC News on Monday**:** "I endorsed Tony before all these allegations came out, they're obviously very serious, and I've spoken with him and told him he's got to address that in an appropriate way with his constituents. So, it's too early for anybody to prejudge any of that, but we'll see how it develops."
“There are serious accusations, and it must be taken seriously, and I’ve told him he’s got to address that with his constituents and, and he’s in the process of doing that,” Mike Johnson told CNN, also on Monday. “It is my understanding there’s an investigation in the state of Texas on these matters and has been going for some time, and the Office of Congressional Conduct has also, it’s been reported, they’ve been looking at it and all of that was news to me. But I … think as in every case like this, you have to allow the investigations to play out and all the facts to come out.”
Adrian Aviles told The San Antonio Express-News the messages Gonzales sent were "very sexual in nature" and that Gonzales "abused his power" through his involvement with Santos-Aviles. He added "he should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader."
Republican Brandon Herrera, who is running against Gonzales in the March 3 primary, wrote: "It is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and wrecked a family. I also now know this is not the only case. He must resign."
What Happens Next
Gonzales is running for a fourth term and the GOP primary takes place on March 3.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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