Texas 23rd Congressional District

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.