Several Republican members of Congress are calling on Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales to resign or end his reelection campaign following allegations that he had an affair with a staffer.

The controversy escalated after the San Antonio Express-News reported that the aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, wrote in April 2025 that she “had an affair with our boss and I’m fine.” Santos-Aviles died last year after setting herself on fire. Her widower, Adrian Aviles, later provided text messages to the media showing Gonzales allegedly pressing her for explicit photos. Gonzales has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations “personal smears” from his primary opponent, and stated he will not be “blackmailed” over the claims.

Several GOP lawmakers have publicly condemned Gonzales. Rep. Lauren Boebert called for his resignation, while Rep. Nancy Mace said he should be “held fully accountable” and that Texans deserve a congressman who does not prey on women. Other Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, criticized Gonzales for allegedly requesting explicit photos from a staffer and urged him to drop out of the race. Rep. Brandon Gill described the situation as “disgusting” and said Gonzales should immediately end his campaign.

The allegations come as Gonzales faces a competitive primary in Texas, with early voting already underway. House rules prohibit sexual relationships between members and their staff, and the released messages appear to show potential violations. Speaker Mike Johnson, who previously endorsed Gonzales, told the congressman to address the allegations with his constituents while cautioning against prejudging the matter.

The Office of Congressional Conduct has completed a preliminary investigation and will forward its findings to the House Ethics Committee after the primary concludes. With mounting pressure from his own party, Gonzales continues to defend his record while the future of his reelection bid remains uncertain.