The Republican Party is scrambling to replace an embattled Texas congressman after the Daily Mail revealed an alleged affair between US Representative Tony Gonzales and his staffer, who died after setting herself on fire.
The married member of Congress became romantically involved with Regina Aviles, 35, after she began working for him in November 2021, according to sources who spoke with the Daily Mail on the condition of anonymity.
Aviles died on September 14 after she doused herself in gasoline and became engulfed in flames at her home in Uvalde, Texas.
Gonzales is currently running for re-election to represent the 23rd congressional district of Texas, which includes San Antonio, Uvalde and eastern portions of El Paso.
However, political operatives who asked to remain unnamed told the Daily Mail that at least two Republicans in San Antonio have already been approached by the White House and the Republican National Committee about running for Gonzales’ seat.
Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody and former vice chair of the local GOP Kyle Sinclair, have each been asked to consider running.
Gonzales did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for comment for this story. When given multiple opportunities by the Daily Mail to deny the affair, he did not engage.
The White House allegedly first approached Sinclair – who had already announced he is running for Congress in Texas District 21 – after Aviles’ death, but before the alleged affair became public knowledge on Monday, one of the political operatives said.
Congressman Tony Gonzales hosted Elon Musk in September 2023 as he toured the US-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas. The aide he allegedly had an affair with, Regina Aviles, can been seen on the right of Musk
Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody (right) and former vice chair of the local GOP Kyle Sinclair (left), have each been asked to consider running for Rep Tony Gonzales’ seat amid his affair scandal
After news of the alleged affair was published by the Daily Mail, the National Republican Committee allegedly also began courting Sinclair.
Moody, one of the few conservative office holders in deep blue San Antonio, has also been encouraged to jump in, another insider told the Daily Mail.
Sinclair confirmed he had been recruited, however, he is not interested.
‘While I’m grateful for the enthusiasm surrounding my name in discussions about TX-23, my heart and mission are firmly rooted in representing the 21st district,’ Sinclair said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
The search for other candidates comes amid a backlash following news of the alleged affair.
‘It’s impossible to ignore the political implications for Congressman Tony Gonzales,’ Charlie Kolean, the president of Strategic Political Management told the Daily Mail.
‘He narrowly survived his last primary, and this controversy only deepens the sense of unease many Republican voters already had about his leadership. With trust and integrity at the forefront of every campaign, this situation will make his path to re-election extremely difficult.’
Aviles and her husband, Adrian Aviles, had separated after he learned of her relationship with Gonzales, a source shared, but continued to co-parent their eight-year-old son. It is not clear exactly when they separated.
Aviles (pictured) had been separated from her husband – her son’s father – at the time of her death
Aviles was found engulfed in flames at her Uvalde home (above) on September 13. Investigators determined she was home alone at the time
Aviles is survived by her husband, Adrian (pictured), and their eight-year-old son. Her obituary described her as ‘a devoted mother, a loving daughter, sister and wife, and a loyal friend’
Gonzales (pictured with his wife, Angel), a father of six, did not attend Aviles’ funeral held on September 25, sources told the Daily Mail
Adrian, who runs a video surveillance business, did not respond to the Daily Mail’s requests for comment.
Sources added he had installed cameras at the home they once shared, and that the footage from those devices captured his wife pouring gasoline on herself on September 13.
The Uvalde Police Department told the Daily Mail that the video has been turned over to the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab for review.
Aviles, known by friends and family as ‘Regi’, was airlifted to San Antonio after the local fire department was called to her house but died in the hospital the next day.
Investigators have not yet released a cause of death. The medical examiner told the Daily Mail that autopsy results remain pending, though authorities believe the death was due to self-immolation.
‘Regina Santos-Aviles was alone in her backyard when the fire began, which ultimately caused significant injuries and required her transport to the emergency room,’ Uvalde Police said in a statement to the Daily Mail.
‘At this stage of the investigation, we do not have any information to suggest that anyone else was involved.’
Voters in San Antonio received this text message (pictured above in part) Tuesday after the Daily Mail broke the story about Gonzales’ alleged affair with his aide. Note: the text incorrectly uses ‘Avila’ as Regina Aviles’ last name
In the text (pictured above in part), voters were polled about how Gonzales should deal with the scandal. Note: the text incorrectly uses ‘Avila’ as Regina Aviles’ last name
Voters in San Antonio received a text message blast Tuesday from a group called Texas Reach Associates asking how Gonzales should deal with the scandal.
‘Do you believe Congressman Gonzales should publicly address his involvement [with Aviles] or continue to keep quiet,’ the text polled voters.
It also promised responses would be kept anonymous.
Gonzales’ spokesman did not deny the affair when asked about it by the Daily Mail.
‘Regina Aviles was a kind soul who had a lasting impact on her community, which she continued to serve until her untimely death,’ the spokesman said in a statement earlier this month.
‘To see political bottom feeders distort the circumstances around her passing is truly sickening. Tony Gonzales remains laser-focused on delivering historic achievements for Texas and condemns any attempts to misuse this tragedy.’
Gonzales, considered a moderate Republican and often called a RINO (Republican in name only) already faces a primary challenge from gun enthusiast and YouTuber Brandon Herrera as well as rancher Susan Storey Rubio.
In 2024, Gonzales barely beat Herrera in the GOP primary, winning by a razor-thin margin of 354 votes.
