"Headed into the Republican primaries, the incumbent, Rep. Tony Gonzales, was facing one of the ugliest sex scandals in recent political history. His main opponent, Brandon Herrera, is famous as a gun influencer from Uvalde, the site of a horrific mass shooting at an elementary school, and had come under fire for making light of the mass murder of Jews."
"In late February, it was revealed that Gonzales had had an affair with a female staffer in 2024; on Sept. 13, 2025, the staffer died from self-immolation after blaming the affair for her marriage's disintegration. Texts provided by the staffer's ex-husband showed Gonzales pressuring the staffer, even as she expressed discomfort with the situation."
"Immediately after the news was announced, Democrats dug up old YouTube clips that seemed to point to Nazi sympathies. In one video, from 2022, Herrera filmed himself goose-stepping while holding an old German rifle as a Nazi marching song plays."
Texas' 23rd District faced a troubling Republican primary between incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales and Brandon Herrera, a gun influencer from Uvalde. Gonzales was accused of sexual misconduct involving a female staffer who died by self-immolation in 2025, blaming the affair for her marriage's collapse. Text messages showed Gonzales pressuring the uncomfortable staffer. After initially continuing his campaign, Gonzales withdrew following Republican pressure. Herrera, known as the AK Guy, faced scrutiny for old YouTube videos appearing to show Nazi sympathies, including goose-stepping while holding a German rifle. Recent redistricting made the majority-Hispanic border district solidly red, positioning Herrera for an easy path to Congress despite his controversial background.
#texas-politics #republican-primary #sexual-misconduct-scandal #controversial-candidates #congressional-race
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