Scandal Impacts Texas Congressman’s Support
According to a recent Trafalgar Group poll, support for Republican Texas Representative Tony Gonzalez among primary voters has significantly dropped following reports of an alleged affair with a staff member.
Regina Santos-Aviles, the Regional District Director, tragically died last September in Uvalde, Texas, after an incident of self-immolation. Sources indicate that Gonzalez, who is also married, was involved with Santos-Aviles. This information has emerged from various individuals who spoke to multiple news outlets. As of now, Gonzalez has not publicly denied these allegations.
The Trafalgar poll, commissioned by a neutral organization unrelated to either campaign, was conducted from October 26 to October 29. It gauged voter awareness about the reported affair and raised questions regarding Gonzalez’s ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee for possible violations regarding relationships with staff. House rules clearly prohibit such relationships, though the Ethics Committee has not commented on this situation, nor has Gonzalez’s office responded to queries.
In the poll of 503 likely Republican primary voters, 46% claimed they were unaware of the allegations involving Gonzalez and Santos-Aviles. When asked how these allegations and the potential investigation could affect their support for Gonzalez, 49% indicated they were “unlikely” or “very unlikely” to vote for him in the primaries.
Moreover, it appears Gonzalez still holds a considerable share of the vote—40.4%—in a competitive race against challenger Brandon Herrera, who stands at 35.2%. The remaining voters are undecided, indicating a close race as the election approaches.
However, the situation has the potential to shift dramatically. As voters become more aware of these allegations and Herrera’s charitable work for veterans, support for Gonzalez may be further jeopardized. In a scenario where voters learn more about the candidates, 43.9% indicated they would choose Herrera, while 32.4% would still back Gonzalez.
