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By Adeola Adeosun and Gabe Whisnant
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Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas announced Monday he will retire from Congress, escalating a weeks-long scandal over an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide last year.
The announcement comes as bipartisan calls to expel him grew louder — and just hours after Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California said he, too, would resign amid separate sexual misconduct allegations. Gonzales' departure will trigger a special election in his Texas district, further straining the House Republican majority, which the GOP holds by only a handful of seats.
From Reelection Withdrawal to Full Retirement
Gonzales had already announced in March he would not seek reelection, but stopped short of leaving office — insisting at the time he would finish his term. That position became increasingly untenable as pressure mounted from both parties. The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into his conduct, and Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida introduced two resolutions targeting him — one to strip his committee assignments on House Appropriations and Homeland Security, and another to censure him.
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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York went further, publicly supporting Gonzales' expulsion — a rare step requiring a two-thirds vote from the full chamber.
On Monday, Gonzales posted to X: "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."
What the Ethics Rules Say
At the center of the investigation is a House ethics rule that explicitly prohibits lawmakers from engaging in a sexual relationship with any employee of the House under their supervision. Gonzales acknowledged the relationship in a March interview on the Joe Pags Show, saying: "I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions."
The staff member, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, 35, died in September of 2025 after setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde, Texas. The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office ruled her death a suicide. Gonzales said he had not spoken to Santos-Aviles since June 2024 and stated he had "absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing."
Why Republican Leaders Stayed Cautious
House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leadership had called on Gonzales to withdraw from his reelection race in March but notably stopped short of demanding his resignation — a calculated move to avoid triggering a vacancy that could further narrow the party's slim House majority. "We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues," Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, and GOP Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain said in a joint statement at the time.
With Gonzales announcing his retirement, Republicans will need to defend his seat in a special election at a moment when the party is already navigating a turbulent political environment heading into the 2026 midterms.
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What Happens Next
Gonzales is expected to formally file his retirement when Congress returns.
He gave no further details on his plans to step down.
Update 4/13/26, 7:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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