Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales Ends Re-Election Bid as House Ethics Panel Opens Misconduct Investigation

Gonzales says he will serve out his term; withdrawal reshapes the GOP contest in Texas’ 23rd District

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, has ended his 2026 re-election bid amid a formal investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics. Gonzales announced late Thursday, March 5, 2026, that he would not seek another term while remaining in office through the end of the current Congress.

The development follows a week of accelerating political pressure in Washington after Gonzales publicly acknowledged an extramarital affair with a former staff member. In his statement announcing his withdrawal, Gonzales said he reached the decision after reflection with his family and pledged to continue performing his duties for the remainder of his term.

Ethics investigation and leadership pressure

The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Gonzales’ conduct. The committee’s inquiry is focused on allegations that include potential sexual misconduct involving an individual employed in his office, as well as whether any improper special favors or privileges were provided.

House Republican leaders publicly urged Gonzales to exit the race shortly before his announcement, a rare step that signaled the party’s concern about the political and institutional fallout of the case. While some lawmakers also called for Gonzales to resign from office, the leadership’s public stance centered on his candidacy rather than an immediate departure from Congress.

Context involving a former staffer’s death

The affair involved a former staff member who later died in 2025. Authorities ruled her death a suicide, a factor that has intensified scrutiny surrounding the circumstances leading up to the Ethics Committee’s action and the subsequent political response. Gonzales has described the relationship as a serious mistake and said he accepts responsibility for his actions.

What it means for Texas’ 23rd District race

Gonzales’ exit converts a contest that had been headed toward a Republican runoff into an open-seat race on the GOP side. Texas’ 23rd District spans a large portion of Southwest Texas and includes communities along the U.S.-Mexico border, making it a high-profile seat in national debates over border security, immigration enforcement, and federal disaster and infrastructure funding.

Gonzales was first elected in 2020 and has built a profile around border and security issues. His decision to leave the race removes the advantages typically associated with incumbency and is expected to shift campaign dynamics, fundraising, and party strategy heading into the general election cycle.

• Gonzales will remain a sitting member of Congress through the end of his term unless he resigns.
• The House Ethics Committee investigation is ongoing and can result in findings and potential disciplinary recommendations.
• The 2026 election for the seat proceeds without Gonzales as a candidate, with downstream effects on party competition and turnout.

Gonzales said he would continue serving his constituents for the remainder of his term after deciding not to run again.

With the ethics inquiry underway and the incumbent stepping aside, the race for Texas’ 23rd District now enters a new phase defined by candidate reshuffling, heightened national attention, and uncertainty over how the ongoing investigation may shape political narratives through November.