Married MAGA, Tony Gonzales, affair partner commits suicide

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

A former staffer in Gonzales' district office who worked closely with the aide, Regina Ann "Regi" Santos-Aviles, said she told him they had an affair in 2024, and that she spiraled into a depression after her husband discovered the relationship and Gonzales abruptly cut her off. He also shared with the San Antonio Express-News a screenshot of a text message from Santos-Aviles in which she acknowledged having an “affair with our boss.”

The staffer, who asked not to be named, citing a fear of retaliation, faulted Gonzales' office for failing to intervene, saying he warned the congressman's district director months before Santos-Aviles' death that he was concerned about her well-being. He described her as his “best friend” and said their families knew each other.

Gonzales, a Republican representing Texas' 23rd Congressional District, is currently seeking reelection in a contested primary. He and his staff did not respond to a list of detailed questions submitted by the Express-News.

A lawyer for Santos-Aviles' husband said her romantic relationship with the congressman was an open secret, and that he does not believe it played a role in her death. Authorities have said there was no evidence of foul play in Santos-Aviles’ death. Both she and Gonzales were married to other people at the time of the alleged affair.


https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/tony-gonzales-affair-regina-santos-aviles-21357720.php

[Lovie777]

1. I read it. She used fire to off herself............

what a painful way to go.

Did he even care?

[Hope22]

3. Not your typical female choice of offing....

[blue_jay]

2. Wow, so disturbing and sad nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. MaddowBlog-Salacious allegations jolt Texas GOP race ahead of closely watched primary

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is facing allegations that could end his congressional career.

Salacious allegations jolt Texas GOP race ahead of closely watched primary - MS NOW

apple.news/AzxxmX5waQxi...

— (@oc88.bsky.social) 2026-02-19T18:58:16.486Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/salacious-allegations-jolt-texas-gop-race-ahead-of-closely-watched-primary

The San Antonio Express-News, Gonzales’ hometown newspaper, reported on a text message from Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide to the congressman, who said she had an extramarital affair with Gonzales. Santos-Aviles died by suicide last year.

While these allegations against the Texas Republican have come up before, and Gonzales, a married father of six, has long denied any wrongdoing, the Express-News reported that a former aide to the congressman came forward to say that Santos-Aviles told him about the relationship. That same aide (who asked not to be named by the Express-News, citing a fear of retaliation) provided a text message from Santos-Aviles in which she said she “had an affair with our boss.” (He shared the same evidence with The New York Times.)

The unproven accusations are notable for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the Express-News’ report was published just two weeks before the primary in Texas. Indeed, The Wall Street Journal reported that Gonzales’ principal intraparty rival believes it’s time for the incumbent to quit.

The top Republican challenger to Rep. Tony Gonzales called for him to drop out of the primary race on Wednesday following allegations that he engaged in an extramarital affair with an aide.

As early voting kicked off in Texas, Brandon Herrera said Gonzalez should discontinue his re-election campaign because of an alleged relationship with the aide, Regina Santos-Aviles … Separately on Wednesday, the lawyer for Santos-Aviles’s husband said Gonzales publicly needs to take accountability for what he described as an inappropriate sexual affair between a boss and his subordinate.

In his latest statement, the congressman, who barely prevailed in a primary race two years ago, did not directly address the underlying allegation. Rather, Gonzales praised Santos-Aviles’ work and accused his primary challenger of using a “disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points” as early voting began.

Time will tell whether and to what extent local voters are moved by the controversy, but the editorial board of the Express-News, which endorsed Gonzales’ re-election bid, changed its mind in a piece published this week. Watch this space