The Office of Congressional Conduct has been reviewing whether Gonzales violated House rules in connection with an alleged affair involving a staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2025. House rules prohibit members from engaging in a sexual relationship with an employee under their supervision. Gonzales has denied the allegations.

Santos-Aviles worked in Gonzales’ office for four years and was married with one child. Gonzales is married with six children. The congressman has argued the claims are politically motivated, blaming Herrera’s campaign for leveraging a tragic situation to gain an advantage in the March 3 Republican primary.

The situation has drawn public scrutiny. Adrian Aviles, Santos-Aviles’ husband, publicly confronted the congressman’s office, and the San Antonio Express-News withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales after the revelation. Gonzales has claimed Aviles’ lawyer attempted to extract $300,000 from him in exchange for a nondisclosure agreement, calling it an attempted “blackmail” scheme.

Critics argue the investigation highlights a pattern of evasive behavior and poor judgment by Gonzales, who has been accused of prioritizing personal image over accountability. Republican voters in Texas’s 23rd District are now evaluating a choice between a controversial incumbent and Brandon Herrera, who has emphasized conservative priorities such as border security and strong fiscal stewardship.

Herrera’s campaign is positioning him as a transparent alternative, focused on policies rather than personal controversies. The primary race is shaping up as a referendum on ethics and leadership, with voters weighing Gonzales’ alleged misconduct against Herrera’s record as a committed conservative voice.