WASHINGTON — South Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales is speaking out after barely surviving a primary runoff challenge from gun rights activist and social media influencer Brandon Herrera. The close contest reflected the divide between more traditional Republicans and the party’s hard-right wing.
“Runoffs are just brutal. They're absolutely brutal,” Gonzales said on a call with reporters on Wednesday.
The San Antonio Republican was reminded just how brutal a primary can be after he narrowly won Tuesday’s runoff against Brandon Herrera, a conservative gun rights activist who calls himself the "AK Guy" and has more than 3 million followers on YouTube.
With 99% of votes counted, Gonzales edged out Herrera by just 407 votes.
“As a retired Navy master chief, I know firsthand you're never going to please everyone, and nor should you try to please everyone. Just do the best job you possibly can, show up in good times and in not so good times, and ultimately deliver and that is what our campaign is done,” Gonzales said.
“The campaign was built on results, it was not built on rhetoric,” he continued.
Gonzales became a target of the hard right after voting for the gun safety law enacted after the mass school shooting in Uvalde, which is in his district. He was sanctioned by the state Republican Party for that vote and his support of same-sex marriage.
“I serve with some real scumbags like Matt Gaetz,” Gonzales said last month on CNN’s State of the Union.
Those comments about Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz deepened the divide between Gonzales and some hard-right House Republicans. Chair of the hardline House Freedom Caucus Rep. Bob Good of Virginia and Gaetz ended up endorsing Herrera.
In a statement to Spectrum News, Gaetz noted how Gonzales far outspent Herrera and he went on to say, “It was a photo finish at the wire. Brandon has a bright future in Texas and national politics, and I’ll remain one of his biggest fans."
When asked about the outside influence, Gonzales said it clearly played a role, but he vows to continue to listen to constituents.
“I want to have debates, I want to have discussions, I want to have people that will influence me, and I want to influence them,” Gonzales said. “How do you be a statesman and sit down and talk through some of these very difficult issues, and then ultimately deliver? I think there's not a lot of people willing to do that right now.”
Some political analysts said Gonzales helped himself by leaning into his military service, emphasizing his appropriations wins and securing the endorsements of key Republicans like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
“Moving forward, I think Gonzales needs to be aware that every move he makes, every, every way he goes on voting between now and say late 2025, he better be aware that there may be a much more preventable, much better finance candidate,” said Jon Taylor, professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
The 23rd Congressional District of Texas stretches from San Antonio to El Paso and includes more than 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Gonzales is favored against Democrat Santos Limon in the general election in November.
In another closely watched Republican runoff, Rep. Craig Goldman defeated John O'Shea to replace longtime Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth. Goldman was among the GOP members in the Texas House who voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Senate later acquitted Paxton.
Both of these districts were reconfigured in redistricting to favor Republicans.