Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales has advanced to a runoff in Tuesday's state GOP primary with gun manufacturer and YouTuber Brandon Herrera – amid allegations the incumbent had an affair with an female aide who committed suicide.

Gonzales and Herrera beat out military veteran Keith Barton and former Rep. Francisco Canseco in Tuesday's Republican primary election for the 23rd Congressional District, The Hill news outlet reported. Gonzales narrowly beat Herrera in the 2024 runoff. 

A candidate had to win more than 50% of the vote on Tuesday to avoid the runoff on May 26.  

The House race comes after allegations were reported that Gonzales had an affair with a former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles. Santos-Aviles, who was married and had a son, died in September after setting herself on fire.

The alleged affair led some GOP Congress members to call for Gonzales' resignation, but he has called the allegations “personal smears.”

“I’m not gonna resign. I work every day for the people of Texas,” Gonzales told CNN last month. “There will be an opportunity for all the details and facts to come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts. And there will be ample time for all of that to come out.”  

House Speaker Mike Johnson said that Gonzales needed to address the allegations, but has not called for his resignation.

President Donald Trump in December 2025 endorsed Gonzales for reelection but appeared to back off his support after the recent revelations about an alleged affair.