Rep. Tony Gonzales pulled into GOP primary runoff amid allegations he had an affair with a staffer
Herrera advanced to a one-on-one runoff against Gonzales after neither candidate secured a primary majority.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page identifies NBC News as the original publisher, and the reporting is attributed to an established national newsroom. Yahoo News is the republishing venue rather than the source of the reported investigation and election projection.
- Source type — The article is attributed to NBC News, an established national reporting organization.
- Transparency — The page names the original publisher and identifies the reporter.
- Author attribution — The original article carries a named byline.
The report attributes the election projection and investigation details to NBC News, includes Gonzales’ denials and counterclaims, and gives some background on the race. It is brief and provides limited direct response from Herrera or further detail about the investigation.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Gonzales’ denial and his claims that the allegations are politically motivated and involve blackmail, alongside the accusations and reported investigative developments. It gives little direct detail from Herrera or the accusers beyond the reported allegations.
- Counterarguments presented — Gonzales’ denials and counterclaims are included.
- Source diversity — The report cites NBC News’ projection and sources familiar with the investigation but offers limited direct perspectives from others involved.
- Omitted context — The short report gives little detail about the investigation or the accusers’ accounts.
The article uses mostly matter-of-fact language and attributes allegations and responses to their sources. Its framing foregrounds the allegations but does not clearly favor a political side.
- Framing — It pairs the runoff result with the allegations, while attributing them and Gonzales’ responses.
- Language tone — The report generally uses neutral, factual language.
- Source selection — The report draws on NBC News’ projection and sources familiar with the investigation, while including Gonzales’ denials and accusations.
Republished with credit
Republished from NBC News, with credit to the original publisher.
332 stories · 84.9–85.2 · updated Oct 12, 2026
This is NBC News's own score, and this article is credited to NBC News. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Rep. Tony Gonzales and challenger Brandon Herrera advanced to a Republican primary runoff in Texas after neither won a majority. The race unfolded amid renewed allegations of an affair involving Gonzales and a former staffer.
NBC News projected that Gonzales would face Herrera in a runoff for the Republican nomination after no candidate received a majority. Herrera also challenged Gonzales in 2024, coming within a few hundred votes of defeating him.
The article says allegations that Gonzales had an affair with former staffer Regina Santos-Aviles resurfaced last month. Gonzales denied the affair, accused Herrera of stoking the allegations, and accused Santos-Aviles’ widower and his lawyer of blackmailing him. NBC News reported that the Office of Congressional Conduct had finished a probe, but House rules prevented the office from sending a report to the House Ethics Committee before the election.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Herrera in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Herrera’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Republican congressional candidate advancing to a runoff against Gonzales
Representative and Republican primary candidate facing a runoff amid renewed allegations
Gonzales's version of this story ↗President who endorsed Gonzales
Part of a bigger story
11 OUTLETSBrandon Herrera and Rep. Tony Gonzales advanced to a Texas Republican primary runoff after neither won a majority. Left-leaning outlets place the result amid allegations and calls from some House Republicans for Gonzales to resign or end his campaign. Center outlets pair the result with attributed allegations; KTBB also reports a House Ethics Committee inquiry. Right-leaning outlets use sharper scandal-focused headlines, while AmmoLand also presents Herrera as a gun-rights challenger.
- ARTICLES
- 19
- OUTLETS
- 11
- AVG CRED
- 66
- AmmoLand Shooting Sports News · Gonzales Under Ethics Investigation After Gun Rights Activist Brandon Herrera Forces Runoff
- KTBB · Embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales heads to runoff with Brandon Herrera in Texas GOP primary – KTBB News, Weather, Talk
- KXL · Embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales heads to runoff with Brandon Herrera in Texas GOP primary
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