By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Thursday night that he will not seek reelection, ending his campaign for another term representing
Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.
In the March Republican primary, Brandon Herrera led the four-candidate field with 43.33 percent of the vote, while Gonzales received 41.73 percent. In Val Verde County, Republicans favored Herrera, with 1,385 votes and Gonzales received 988 votes.
With Gonzales stepping out of the race ahead of the scheduled Republican runoff, Herrera is expected to become the GOP nominee for the South Texas district. The decision follows growing pressure from Republican leaders after Gonzales acknowledged having an affair with a former staff member, calling it a “lapse in judgment.”
Gonzales’ statement released Thursday night.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Today, Rep. Tony Gonzales (TX-23) issued the following statement.
“At 18, I swore an oath to defend our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. During my 20 years in the military and three terms in Congress, I have fought for that cause with absolute dedication to the country that I love. From overcoming the border crisis to taking a stand with my communities after the worst school shooting in Texas’ history, my philosophy has never changed: do as much as you can, and always fight for the greater good. After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district. Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales.”God has a plan for all of us.”
