Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas’s 23rd district, is under pressure from party leaders after a former staffer publicly alleged that they had a consensual affair in 2024, according to an NPR report released on Feb. 23, 2026.
Gonzales, who was first elected to the House in 2022, has previously faced scrutiny over campaign finance disclosures, but he has not resigned and maintains that the relationship was private and consensual, as stated in a press release from his office.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett said the allegations raise serious ethical concerns and urged Gonzales to step down, noting that “public trust is eroded when elected officials hide personal conduct that could influence their judgment.”
The progressive group Texas Transparency Initiative called for an immediate ethics investigation, stating that “any potential conflict of interest must be examined fully to preserve the integrity of the office.”
What the Right Is Saying
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik released a statement saying the party is reviewing the matter through the appropriate ethics channels and that “due process will be followed, and any decision will be based on facts, not politics.”
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan added that while the party takes the allegations seriously, he emphasized that “no resignation is required until an official finding is made by the House Ethics Committee.”
What the Numbers Show
A Texas Public Policy Center poll conducted March 1‑3, 2026 found that 48% of likely voters in Gonzales’s district said the affair allegations made them less likely to support him, while 34% said it would not affect their vote and 18% were undecided.
The House Ethics Committee has opened a preliminary review; historically, 12% of investigations involving personal conduct result in formal reprimand, according to the committee’s 2023 annual report.
The Bottom Line
Gonzales’s decision to remain in office while the party conducts its review will keep the seat open for the remainder of the term, but the pending ethics investigation and public opinion trends could influence his political future and the GOP’s handling of similar cases.