{"id":2575863,"date":"2026-03-04T02:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T07:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scandal-plagued-tony-gonzales-forced-into-gop-primary-run-off\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T02:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T07:27:54","slug":"scandal-plagued-tony-gonzales-forced-into-gop-primary-run-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scandal-plagued-tony-gonzales-forced-into-gop-primary-run-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Scandal-plagued Tony Gonzales forced into GOP primary run-off"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fscandal-plagued-tony-gonzales-forced-into-gop-primary-run-off%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2575863&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales will face Brandon Herrera in a runoff after neither candidate cleared 50% in the district\u2019s race. With about 77% of precincts counted, both candidates were at 42.5% of the vote, Gonzales narrowly ahead by around four votes. The runoff is set for may 26, with early voting May 18\u201322; under state law, a recount can be requested if the margin is within 10%. The campaign has been overshadowed by controversy over alleged explicit text messages Gonzales sent to a staffer who later died by suicide; Gonzales has refused to resign and plans to continue his reelection bid in 2026. Herrera has received an endorsement from the House Freedom Caucus\u2019s political action committee, reflecting a strong right-flank challenge. Other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >texas races<\/a>, including a Senate or attorney general runoff, are also in play.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Scandal-plagued Tony Gonzales forced into GOP primary run-off for House seat<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tony-gonzales\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11307\">Tony Gonzales<\/a> (R-TX) is heading to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/is-the-democrats-election-heist-too-big-to-fail\/\" title=\"Is the Democrats\u2019 Election Heist \u2018Too Big to Fail\u2019?\">runoff election<\/a> against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"240\">Republican<\/a> opponent Brandon Herrera after neither <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vargas-llosa-backs-arch-foe-fujimoris-daughter-in-peruvian-cliffhanger\/\" title=\"Vargas Llosa Backs Arch-Foe Fujimori&#039;s Daughter in Peruvian Cliffhanger\">candidate received<\/a> the 50% required to win the race on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p>The Associated Press called the race as a run-off as Gonzales and Herrera had 42.5% of the vote as of 1:15 a.m. With 77% of the vote counted, the congressman led his opponent by just four votes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4478965\/valerie-foushee-nida-allam-north-carolina-primary\/\">Rep. Valerie Foushee declares victory in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/david-perdue-announces-run-for-georgia-governor-over-my-dead-body-will-stacey-abrams-control-our-elections\/\" title=\"David Perdue Announces Run for Georgia Governor: \u2018Over My Dead Body\u2019 Will Stacey Abrams Control Our Elections\">competitive primary<\/a> with recount likely<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4479256\/texas-gop-senate-primary-cornyn-paxton-hunt\/\">John Cornyn to face Ken Paxton in costly Texas Senate runoff<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4479480\/dallas-police-arrest-man-ken-paxton-election-party\/\">Dallas police arrest man outside Ken Paxton election night watch party<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Per state law, the race will automatically go to a runoff, which is scheduled on May 26, with early voting in the runoff taking place from May 18&ndash;22. <\/p>\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video featured-post-video in-content bridtv\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2515356\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video-placeholder\" style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:100%;padding-top:56.25%;background-color:#000;\">\n<div style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;width:100%;height:100%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Candidates in a runoff can request a recount if the results are within 10% of each other. Both Gonzales and Herrera are familiar with a runoff; the candidates faced each other in a runoff election in 2024, with Gonzales narrowly defeating Herrera by roughly 400 votes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thank you President Trump and all those #TX23 constituents that support our campaign. Onward to a victorious May,&rdquo; Gonzales wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TonyGonzales4TX\/status\/2029049240152903925?s=20\">post<\/a> to X.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Are you seriously congratulating yourself for not winning your primary?&rdquo; Herrera responded in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/theakguy\/status\/2029056498135888207?s=46\">post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Gonzales faced an embattled last few months after text messages recently released allegedly showed the congressman sending <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4467526\/read-tony-gonzales-explicit-texts-late-staffer\/\">explicit sexual text messages<\/a> to the staffer, who later died by suicide after setting herself on fire last year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4471655\/johnson-tony-gonzales-controversy-texas-primary\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4471655\/johnson-tony-gonzales-controversy-texas-primary\/\">JOHNSON SAYS GONZALES CONTROVERSY WILL PLAY OUT IN HIS TEXAS PRIMARY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gonzales has insisted he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4469480\/tony-gonzales-will-not-resign-alleged-staffer-affair\/\">would not resign<\/a> nor suspend his 2026 reelection campaign, despite pressure from some of his fellow House Republicans. Herrera also received an endorsement from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-freedom-caucus\/\">House Freedom Caucus&rsquo;s <\/a>political action committee, the House Freedom Fund, which did not come as a surprise, considering right-flank conservatives in Texas have been looking to remove Gonzales from office since he&rsquo;s taken centrist stances on Republican policies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Other races poised for a runoff include the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas GOP primary<\/a> for Senate or the attorney general race.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gonzales heads to GOP runoff after 42.5% vote<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2575864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-2026-texas-gop-primary-e1772577899140.jpg?1772545939&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[38252,36274,75033,75032,37104],"class_list":["post-2575863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-campaign-controversy","tag-congressional-race","tag-gop-primary-runoff","tag-i-cant-verify-the-scandal-plagued-claim-here-are-neutral-tags-you-can-use-tony-gonzales","tag-texas-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/tony-gonzales-brandon-herrera-2026-texas-gop-primary-e1772577899140.jpg?1772545939&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2575863"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2575867,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575863\/revisions\/2575867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2575864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2575863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2575863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2575863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}