U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales is facing allegations of having an affair with an aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who committed suicide by self-immolation.

Gonzales, a Republican representing Congressional District 23 in South Texas, has been the subject of rumors regarding this alleged relationship. Santos-Aviles was found deceased in September 2025 after being discovered on fire outside her home in Uvalde, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

Text Message: Aide Allegedly Admitted Affair with Gonzales Months Before Her Suicide

“I had an affair with our boss,” reads a new text reportedly from Santos-Aviles, first reported by the San Antonio Express-News. This information reportedly cost him the outlet’s endorsement.

A former staffer in Gonzales’ office told the outlet Santos-Aviles admitted the affair in 2024, then fell into depression after her husband learned of the relationship, and Gonzales cut her off. A lawyer for the aide’s husband said the relationship was an “open secret,” and he did not feel it contributed to her death.

At the time of the reported affair, Gonzales and Santos-Aviles were married to other people. As The Dallas Express reported, investigators initially reported no evidence of foul play in the aide’s death.

Gonzales is currently facing three challengers in the Republican primary on March 3, according to Ballotpedia: Keith Barton, Francisco Canseco, and Brandon Herrera. A recent poll showed Herrera overtaking Gonzales. Four Democrats are also vying for the seat, per the Daily Caller. 

Rumors of Affair with Staffer Persist Despite Gonzales’ Firm Denial

Gonzales has a wife and six children, and publicly advertises himself as a Christian. 

Rumors had been circling about a potential affair between the legislator and Santos-Aviles. Outlets, including the Daily Mail, covered the allegations. However, during an interview at The Texas Tribune Festival in November, Gonzales apparently denied the affair.

“People throwing rocks at me, saying I’m doing nasty things — I totally get that,” Gonzales said at the time. “But the rumors are completely untruthful.”

After recent news of the text message, Gonzales apparently stood by these claims in a statement to The New York Post. “It’s shameful that Brandon Herrera is using a disgruntled former staffer to smear her memory and score political points, conveniently pushing this out the very day early voting started,” he told the outlet. “I am not going to engage in these personal smears and instead will remain focused on helping President Trump secure the border and improve the lives of all Texans.”