Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas' 23rd Congressional District, announced late Monday that he will step down from Congress on Tuesday, preempting a planned House vote on his expulsion.

Gonzales posted on social media, "There is a season for everything, and God has a plan for us all. When Congress returns tomorrow, I will file my retirement from office. It has been my privilege to serve the great people of Texas." The move comes amid bipartisan pressure following allegations of sexual misconduct, including an admitted affair with a former staffer and lewd text messages to another.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether Gonzales violated rules by engaging in a sexual relationship with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide, and whether he dispensed special favors. In March, Gonzales acknowledged the affair and withdrew from his reelection campaign after finishing second in the Republican primary and facing calls from Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders to drop out.

New details emerged last week when the San Antonio Express-News published 2020 text messages from Gonzales to a then-campaign political director, in which he allegedly asked about her underwear, solicited nude photos, and described sexual acts. The staffer said the relationship never became physical. An independent review found substantial evidence of rule violations, with a full Ethics Committee probe pending.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., planned to introduce an expulsion resolution against Gonzales at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday unless his resignation took immediate effect. Some Republicans, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., indicated support for expulsion. The effort mirrored one against Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who announced his resignation shortly before Gonzales.

Gonzales' departure creates a vacancy in the 23rd District, stretching from San Antonio to the West Texas border. Gov. Greg Abbott will set a special election date. The Republican nominee is Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist and YouTuber who has criticized Gonzales and called for his resignation. Democrats nominated San Antonio attorney Katy Padilla Stout and view the seat as competitive amid shifts among Hispanic voters.

Herrera responded to the announcement on social media, writing, “Nature is healing,” referencing his prior feud with Gonzales. The district, redrawn to favor Republicans, has trended rightward but saw Democratic gains in recent specials.

Gonzales, elected in 2022 after flipping the seat, faced prior GOP backlash for supporting bipartisan gun safety and border security measures, leading to a state party censure. His resignation marks a rare early exit amid ethics scrutiny.