Former Staffer Says Rep. Tony Gonzales Had Affair With Aide Who Later Died by Self-Immolation

A former congressional staffer of U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales said he engaged in a romantic relationship with a district aide who later died by suicide in 2025, an allegation the Texas Republican faced in the past and now resurfaced as he faces a competitive primary race on March 3.

The former employee, who worked in Gonzales' district office and spoke on condition of anonymity, told the San Antonio Express-News that aide Regina Ann "Regi" Santos-Aviles said in 2024 that she and Gonzales had an affair. The staffer shared a screenshot of a text message he said came from Santos-Aviles in which she wrote she had an "affair with our boss."

The newspaper reported it verified the messages were sent from a phone number belonging to her.

The staffer said Santos-Aviles became depressed after her husband discovered the relationship and that he warned the congressman's office months before her death that he was concerned about her well-being.

A lawyer for her husband said the alleged relationship "was not a secret among the staff" but added he did not believe it played a role in her death. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play. Santos-Aviles, 35, a regional district director and mother of an 8-year-old, died September 14, 2025, after setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home.

Gonzales did not respond to detailed questions from the Express-News. At a November public appearance, he said, "the rumors are completely untruthful," calling her death "a very tragic situation."

The allegations have surfaced as Gonzales seeks reelection in Texas' 23rd Congressional District, where he faces a contested Republican primary. Challenger Brandon Herrera, who lost to Gonzales by about 400 votes in a 2024 runoff, has raised more than $1 million for a rematch.

At a press conference back in December, Herrera had raised the issue of Gonzales's affarin, accusing him of "having extramarital affairs with his congressional staff."

The race unfolds amid broader concerns among Republicans about electoral performance. After a recent special-election loss in Texas, Gonzales said the result should be an "eye-opener" and that party leaders and candidates alike "need to pick up the pace."

Analysts and party figures have pointed to shifting voter sentiment, including declining support among Latino voters, as a factor influencing upcoming contests.