It doesn’t pay to be a RINO. Eventually it catches up with you.
And now a RINO Republican’s career is crumbling faster than anyone ever expected.
Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales, once a rising star in the GOP, is seeing his political fortunes nosedive as d*mning allegations of an extramarital affair with a former aide—who tragically took her own life—continue to erode his credibility and voter base, according to an exclusive poll obtained by the Daily Caller.
Gonzales’s Support Evaporates in Wake of Scandal
A fresh poll from Pi Polling, conducted February 18-20 among 543 likely Republican primary voters, reveals a stunning reversal for Gonzales.
Now, 54% view him unfavorably, and he’s trailing challenger Brandon Herrera—a Second Amendment advocate and popular YouTube figure—by a wide margin of 45% to 21%. This marks a dramatic shift from a December survey where Gonzales led 40% to 33%, even with President Donald Trump’s endorsement in his corner.
The scandal’s impact is clear: when voters learned of the allegations, a whopping 61% said they were less likely to back Gonzales in the upcoming March 3 primary, highlighting how his personal misconduct is alienating the very conservatives he claims to represent.
Alleged Affair Exposed as ‘Open Secret’ in Gonzales’s Circle
The controversy centers on Gonzales’s reported romantic involvement with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former aide who confirmed the affair months before her heartbreaking suicide in September 2025, when she set herself on fire outside her Uvalde home. Insiders described the relationship as “an open secret.”
Bobby Barrera, the attorney for Regina’s widower Adrian Aviles, stated, “It’s common knowledge,” and added, “The staff was clearly aware this event was occurring.” A ex-staffer who left Gonzales’s office to join Democratic campaigns in Los Angeles echoed this, saying the affair became “common knowledge” during the 2024 election cycle, including at least two illicit meetings at a rental cabin amid a heated runoff against Herrera.
The fallout intensified when the San Antonio Express-News acquired text messages from Santos-Aviles, prompting the paper to rescind its endorsement of Gonzales—a clear sign that his ethical lapses are costing him key support.
Herrera Labels Gonzales a ‘S-xual Predator’ Amid Desperate Denials
Gonzales’s rival didn’t hold back, with Brandon Herrera posting on X: “I have now seen some of the text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late aide, Regina Santos-Aviles. It is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a s-xual predator, who abused his position of power and wrecked a family. I also now know this is not the only case. He must resign.”
This blistering attack underscores accusations of repeated abuse of authority.
In a late-night X post at 3:46 a.m., Gonzales fired back defensively: “During my six years in Congress not a single formal complaint has been levied against my office. Now days away from an election, coordinated political attacks reign in. IT WONT WORK. Half way through early voting and the intensity resides w/ TG voters. I’d rather be us than them.”
Yet, as the primary looms, these deflections do little to mask the growing perception of Gonzales as a liability to the party, prioritizing self-preservation over accountability.
