Tony Gonzales

Tony Gonzales
Born	Ernest Anthony Gonzales II 10 10, 1980
Birthplace	San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, U.S. Navy veteran
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district
Education	Master's degree
Spouse(s)	Angel Gonzales
Children	6
Awards	Bronze Star Medal
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Ernest Anthony Gonzales II (born October 10, 1980), known professionally as Tony Gonzales, is an American politician and retired United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district since January 3, 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Gonzales represents one of the largest congressional districts in the country, spanning more than 800 miles (1,300 km) of the U.S.–Mexico border across southwestern Texas. Before entering politics, Gonzales served twenty years in the Navy as a cryptologic technician, deploying multiple times to combat zones including Iraq and Afghanistan. His congressional tenure has been marked by a willingness to break with his party on significant votes, including his support for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Respect for Marriage Act, positions that drew censure from the Republican Party of Texas. In February 2026, Gonzales faced mounting pressure from within his own party to resign amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a former staff member.

Early Life

Tony Gonzales was born Ernest Anthony Gonzales II on October 10, 1980, in San Antonio, Texas. He grew up in San Antonio, a city with deep military ties often referred to as "Military City USA." Details about his parents and upbringing have been sparse in public records, though Gonzales has spoken publicly about growing up in a working-class environment in the city.

Gonzales enlisted in the United States Navy in 1999 at the age of nineteen, beginning a military career that would span two decades. He served as a cryptologic technician, a specialized role in the Navy's intelligence and information warfare community focused on signals intelligence and electronic warfare. Over the course of his twenty-year career, Gonzales completed multiple combat deployments, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He rose through the enlisted ranks to achieve the rate of Master Chief Petty Officer, one of the highest enlisted ranks in the Navy. During his service, Gonzales was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in a combat zone.

Gonzales served at the Navy Information Operations Command, where he held the role of N3 Operations Chief, overseeing operational intelligence activities. He retired from the Navy in 2019, after which he turned his attention to a career in public service through elected politics.

Education

While serving in the Navy, Gonzales pursued higher education. He earned a master's degree, which he completed during his military service. Gonzales has cited his education alongside his military experience as foundational to his approach to policy, particularly on matters of national security and defense.

Career

Military Service

Gonzales's Navy career began in 1999 and concluded in 2019, encompassing two decades of active-duty service. As a cryptologic technician, he worked in the intelligence and information operations domain, a field critical to modern military strategy. He served at the Navy Information Operations Command in San Antonio, where he eventually became the N3 Operations Chief. His service included multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror, and he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for his contributions in combat operations. By the time of his retirement, Gonzales had attained the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), the highest enlisted rank achievable through normal promotion in the Navy.

Entry into Politics and 2020 Election

Following his retirement from the Navy, Gonzales entered the race for Texas's 23rd congressional district in 2019, seeking to succeed incumbent Will Hurd, who announced he would not seek reelection. The district, which stretches from the outskirts of San Antonio westward through the Big Bend region to the suburbs of El Paso, is one of the most geographically expansive in the nation, covering more than 800 miles of the U.S.–Mexico border. It is considered one of the most competitive districts in Texas, with a significant Hispanic population and a history of close elections.

Hurd endorsed Gonzales as his preferred successor in the Republican primary. Gonzales also received the endorsement of President Donald Trump ahead of the Republican runoff election in July 2020. The runoff was closely contested, and the results were so narrow that a recount was conducted before Gonzales was confirmed as the Republican nominee.

In the November 2020 general election, Gonzales faced Democratic nominee Gina Ortiz Jones, who had narrowly lost to Hurd in 2018. The race was again competitive, with early returns showing a close contest. Gonzales ultimately prevailed, winning the seat and flipping the district back for the Republican Party after Hurd's retirement had left it open.

Congressional Tenure

Gonzales took office on January 3, 2021, succeeding Will Hurd as the representative for the 23rd district. His time in Congress has been characterized by a willingness to deviate from Republican Party orthodoxy on certain high-profile votes, positioning him as one of the more moderate Republicans in the House.

Legislative Positions

Gonzales voted in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, a gun safety measure enacted in the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which is located within his congressional district. The legislation, which included provisions for enhanced background checks for gun buyers under 21 and incentives for states to implement red flag laws, passed with bipartisan support.

He also voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which codified federal recognition of same-sex marriage and interracial marriage in the United States. Both votes placed Gonzales among a minority of House Republicans who crossed party lines on these issues.

In 2023, Gonzales was the sole Texas Republican in the House to vote against the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023, a border security measure supported by the majority of his party. Despite representing a district spanning a vast stretch of the U.S.–Mexico border, Gonzales opposed the legislation, citing concerns about its specific provisions.

During the October 2023 Speaker election crisis, Gonzales was one of eighteen Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House on all three ballots. He was subsequently the only Republican to vote against the House rules package that followed the resolution of the speaker's contest.

Censure by the Texas Republican Party

Gonzales's pattern of breaking with the Republican Party on key votes led to formal action by the Republican Party of Texas. The state party voted to censure Gonzales, criticizing his votes on gun legislation, same-sex marriage protections, and border policy. The censure reflected the tension between Gonzales's moderate positioning in a competitive border district and the more conservative orientation of the Texas Republican Party's activist base.

2024 Primary Challenge

Gonzales's legislative independence drew multiple conservative primary challengers in the 2024 Republican primary election. The most prominent of these was Brandon Herrera, a YouTuber and firearms enthusiast with a significant online following who mounted a campaign centered on criticizing Gonzales's votes on gun legislation and border policy.

In the March 2024 primary, Gonzales failed to secure the majority needed to avoid a runoff, receiving less than 50% of the vote among the crowded field of candidates. Herrera qualified for the runoff election, which became one of the most closely watched Republican primary contests in the country. Gonzales won the runoff with 50.7% of the vote, a narrow margin that underscored the depth of opposition he faced from the conservative wing of his party.

2026 Allegations and Calls for Resignation

In February 2026, multiple news organizations published reports detailing allegations of an inappropriate relationship between Gonzales and a former staff member, Regina Santos-Aviles, who later died by suicide. The reports were based on text messages obtained by investigators and shared by Santos-Aviles's husband, which showed sexually explicit communications between Gonzales and the former aide. According to the San Antonio Express-News, the text messages dated from the spring of 2024, during the period when Gonzales was engaged in his competitive primary campaign.

The Texas Tribune reported that text messages showed Gonzales requesting explicit photographs from Santos-Aviles, with one exchange occurring just after midnight on May 9, 2024. KSAT Investigates obtained records showing "several sexually explicit text messages" between Gonzales and the former aide, and Santos-Aviles's husband publicly shared the messages.

The revelations prompted growing calls for Gonzales's resignation from within the Republican Party. Multiple House Republicans publicly urged Gonzales to step down. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Gonzales needed to address the allegations "in an appropriate way" but stopped short of calling for his resignation directly. NPR reported that the pressure came from within Gonzales's own party, with the allegations adding to longstanding tensions between Gonzales and the conservative wing of the Republican caucus. The New York Times described the situation as one of "growing pressure" on Gonzales to resign amid the messages to the staff member.

Personal Life

Gonzales is married to Angel Gonzales, and the couple have six children. The family has been based in the San Antonio area, which is within the boundaries of the 23rd congressional district. Gonzales has identified as a Catholic, and he was noted among the new Catholic members of Congress elected in 2020.

His military background has been a central element of his public identity, and he has frequently referenced his twenty years of Navy service and combat deployments in public statements and campaign materials.

Recognition

Gonzales was selected as a member of the GOP Young Guns program during his 2020 campaign, a designation by the National Republican Congressional Committee for promising Republican candidates in competitive districts. His military service earned him the Bronze Star Medal, among other decorations received during his twenty-year Navy career.

His election in 2020 drew national attention as one of the key House races that year, particularly given the competitive nature of the 23rd district and its importance as one of the few majority-Hispanic districts represented by a Republican. The New York Times and other national outlets covered his victory as a notable result in the 2020 election cycle. The Hill profiled Gonzales as part of its guide to new members of the 117th Congress, highlighting his military background and the significance of his district along the border.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a national security-focused think tank, listed Gonzales among its advisory figures, reflecting his expertise in intelligence and defense matters developed during his military career.