Three states begin 2026 midterm elections with primaries
Voters in Texas, Arkansas and North Carolina will head to the polls to decide the Republican and Democratic candidates for November’s congressional elections.
Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzalez, who admitted to having an affair with a former staffer who self-immolated, announced on March 5 that he would not seek re-election.
“After deep reflection and with the support of my beloved family, I have decided not to seek re-election, serving the remainder of my term with the same commitment to my district,” Gonzalez said in a statement posted to X.
His announcement came hours after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leaders called on Gonzalez to withdraw from his re-election campaign ahead of the May 26 runoff against gun activist Brandon Herrera. Gonzalez has been embroiled in controversy over rumors that he had an affair with former staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who has since passed away.
In February, NBC News reported that Gonzalez sent multiple sexually explicit text messages in May 2024 to Santos Aviles, who died in September 2025. The San Antonio Express-News also reported that Santos Aviles admitted to having an inappropriate relationship with a former colleague in a text message.
According to a report in the El Paso Times, part of the USA TODAY network, Gonzalez initially denied the allegations and claimed the report was an attempt at extortion. Gonzalez appeared on the Joe Pags podcast on March 4 and admitted to the affair, saying, “I made a mistake.”
“I made a mistake in judgment and lacked faith. I take full responsibility for my actions,” Gonzalez said on the podcast. “I asked God for forgiveness and He granted it. My faith is as strong as ever.”
His appearance also came after the House Ethics Committee voted to open an investigation into Gonzalez. The committee will investigate whether he “committed sexual misconduct toward individuals employed in his office in Congress” and whether he was “unfairly discriminated against by providing special accommodations or privileges.”
Contributor: Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY. Natasia Paloma, El Paso Times
