EXCLUSIVE: Tony Gonzales’s Support Crumbling Amid Alleged Affair Scandal, Poll Shows

Support for Republican Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales is cratering after accusations of an affair with a former aide who later committed suicide came to light, according to a poll exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller.

Regina Santos-Aviles reportedly confirmed the affair months before she set herself on fire outside her Uvalde, Texas, home in September 2025. In a poll of 543 likely Republican primary voters conducted Feb. 18-20 by Pi Polling, 54% of respondents had an unfavorable opinion of Gonzales, who is facing Second Amendment activist and YouTube personality Brandon Herrera in the Republican primary.

Gonzales trailed Herrera, 45% to 21%, according to the February poll, a sharp drop from the 40% to 33% lead he held in a PI Polling survey conducted in December, despite Gonzales receiving the endorsement of President Donald Trump. When informed of the allegations, 61% of respondents said they were less likely to vote for Gonzales in the March 3 primary election.

Sources in Texas familiar with the situation told the Daily Caller the romantic relationship between Gonzales and Santos-Aviles was “an open secret.” Prior to that, the rumored affair had not been independently confirmed by the Daily Caller.

“It’s common knowledge,” Bobby Barrera, an attorney representing Adrian Aviles, Regina’s widower, said. “The staff was clearly aware this event was occurring.”