Gonzales, Herrera head to runoff after affair scandal shakes Texas 23rd

Embattled U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales was forced into a runoff against gun-rights activist Brandon Herrera in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District GOP primary after revelations tied to an affair with a former aide who later died by self-immolation; neither candidate cleared 50% in the initial vote, setting up a May 26 runoff—the second straight runoff between the rivals in two cycles. Herrera has leveraged a large online following and fundraising edge, while Gonzales has faced conservative backlash and earlier censure over a 2023 gun-safety vote. The race will decide who advances to the November general election in a district spanning much of the Texas-Mexico border.