Trump Endorses Brandon Herrera After Rep. Tony Gonzales Exits Texas 23rd Race Amid Ethics Probe Into Affair With Ex‑Staffer
President Donald Trump on Wednesday endorsed Republican Brandon Herrera in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District after incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales, R‑Texas, dropped out of the GOP runoff while facing a House Ethics investigation into an admitted affair with a former staffer. Herrera, a self‑described Second Amendment activist and social media personality, was praised by Trump on Truth Social as a "MAGA" ally who would back his agenda on taxes, border security, energy policy, and election rules. Gonzales, initially backed by Trump, had narrowly trailed Herrera in the primary—43.33% to 41.73%—before announcing he would not seek re‑election and publicly acknowledging the extramarital relationship on a conservative radio show. With Gonzales gone, Trump’s endorsement effectively locks up the GOP nomination for Herrera, who now turns to a November contest against Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout, a local attorney. The episode highlights how Trump is reshaping Republican House ranks in Texas while an ethics cloud ends the career, at least for now, of a once‑favored incumbent.
📌 Key Facts
- Trump endorsed Republican Brandon Herrera on Wednesday for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.
- Incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales exited the race last week amid a House Ethics investigation into an admitted affair with a former staffer.
- Herrera led Gonzales 43.33% to 41.73% in the GOP primary, forcing a runoff before Gonzales withdrew.
- Gonzales publicly acknowledged the affair on "The Joe Pags Show," saying he had reconciled with his wife and sought forgiveness.
- Herrera will face Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout in the November general election.
📊 Relevant Data
Texas's 23rd Congressional District has a population of approximately 806,011, with 68.4% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, 26.5% as White, 1.7% as Black, and the remainder as other races or ethnicities.
Congressional District 23, TX - Profile data — Census Reporter
In June 2022, Rep. Tony Gonzales voted in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun safety bill that expanded background checks and funded red flag laws, breaking with most House Republicans.
U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales breaks with House Republicans to vote for bipartisan gun legislation — Texas Tribune
In a 2022 Texas survey, support for raising the age to purchase assault rifles to 21 was 80% among Black respondents, 75% among Latino respondents, and 64% among White respondents.
TEXAS TRENDS 2022 — University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs
In the United States in 2022, firearm homicide victimization rates were 27.5 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic Black persons (13% of the population), 5.5 per 100,000 for Hispanic persons (19% of the population), and 2.0 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic White persons (58% of the population).
Notes from the Field: Firearm Homicide Rates, by Race and Ethnicity — United States, 2019–2022 — CDC MMWR
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished national origins quotas, leading to a significant increase in immigration from Latin America, with the unauthorized immigrant population from the region rising from near zero in 1965 to around 9.6 million by 2008.
Unintended Consequences of US Immigration Policy — PMC - NIH
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