Republican congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas has ended his re-election campaign but will serve out his term, following his admission of an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide. Gonzales had repeatedly denied the relationship before acknowledging it.
Gonzales announced his decision late on Thursday after facing calls from party leadership to withdraw from the race. The House ethics committee had opened an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and preferential treatment involving Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, who died at age 35 last September.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP leaders urged Gonzales to withdraw, though they stopped short of calling for his resignation. The party holds a slim majority in the House, and several Republicans have called for Gonzales to step aside. Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna introduced resolutions to remove him from committees and censure him.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he would support expelling Gonzales from the House, a rare step requiring a two-thirds vote. Gonzales, who is in his third term, has refused to resign. His withdrawal clears the field for a May runoff against gun-rights influencer Brandon Herrera.
