Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales is accused of having a romantic relationship with a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, who died last year after setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home.

According to a report from the San Antonio Express-News, Santos-Aviles sent a message in 2025 to another Gonzales staffer referencing an affair with the congressman. A former employee who worked closely with her said she confided in him about the relationship in 2024 and became deeply depressed after her husband learned of it, and Gonzales allegedly ended contact. The staffer provided a screenshot of a text in which Santos-Aviles referenced an “affair with our boss.”

The former staffer, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, criticized Gonzales’ office for not intervening, saying he warned the congressman’s district director months before her death. He described Santos-Aviles as his “best friend” and noted that their families were close.

Santos-Aviles, 24, served as Gonzales’ regional district director and was the mother of an 8-year-old son. Authorities have reported no evidence of foul play. Her husband’s attorney stated that the alleged affair was widely known, but he does not believe it contributed to her death. At the time, both Gonzales and Santos-Aviles were married to other people.

The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the Rangers are assisting the Uvalde Police Department with the investigation.

The former staffer said the relationship had become common knowledge among some district office staff during the 2024 election cycle. He alleged that Gonzales and Santos-Aviles met at a family cabin in Concan, Texas, twice in May 2024, while Gonzales was in a GOP primary runoff against Brandon Herrera. Following the discovery of text messages by Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, the affair was reported to other staffers.

Bobby Barrera, the attorney representing Aviles, confirmed that the relationship was known among staff. “It’s common knowledge,” Barrera said, adding that Aviles has remained private to protect his young son.

Gonzales, representing Texas’s 23rd Congressional District, is seeking reelection in a contested GOP primary. Reports indicate he did not attend Santos-Aviles’ funeral.

He will face a primary challenger in Brandon Herrera, setting up what could be a very close race for the GOP nomination in the district.