Rep. Tony Gonzales, a former Navy cryptologic technician who built his political profile on national security and border issues, said Monday that he will retire from Congress after political pressure following a public affair.
His announcement came hours after Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat and longtime member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he would resign amid separate allegations of sexual misconduct—claims he has denied. Swalwell was also a candidate for California governor.
The back-to-back developments mark a rare moment on Capitol Hill, with two sitting lawmakers from opposing parties stepping down within hours of each other as ethics scrutiny intensifies in the House. Their decisions leave an already slim Republican majority at greater peril months ahead of the midterm elections.
Military.com reached out for comment to Gonzales’ office, House leadership, the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee, Texas state officials and outside analysts.
Fallout Forces Exit
Gonzales’ decision follows weeks of escalating pressure tied to allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a congressional staffer.
In early March, Gonzales publicly acknowledged an affair, prompting swift backlash within the Republican conference and calls from party leaders for him to drop his reelection bid—which he did within a day.
The situation escalated further when the House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct and granted special treatment to a staff member.
Additional allegations involving a second staffer surfaced in April, widening the controversy as lawmakers from both parties began discussing the possibility of an expulsion vote—one of the most severe actions available to the House. Just six congress members have ever been expelled, the most recent being former New York GOP Rep. George Santos.
Against that backdrop, Gonzales’ move to retire is widely seen as an effort to step aside before lawmakers are forced to act.
Swalwell’s resignation followed a separate set of allegations involving sexual misconduct. Although the California Democrat denied claims, pressure mounted in recent days, including calls from members of his own party to step down.
Swalwell, who served in Congress since 2013 and sat on the Intelligence Committee, had been a high-profile figure in national security and oversight matters.
From Uniform to Capitol Hill
First elected in 2020, Gonzales represented Texas’ 23rd Congressional District—a vast border seat that spans more than 800 miles of the southern U.S.-Mexico border. He built much of his political identity around national security, immigration and border policy.
Gonzales served 20 years in the Navy, rose to Master Chief Petty Officer and deployed in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan before coming to Congress.
That background carried into his congressional work. He pushed for a bigger military family separation payment after Congress approved the increase but the Pentagon did not implement it.
He pressed Navy leaders over sailor housing after deaths at a troubled private complex. He weighed in this year on Pentagon efforts tied to cartel drone threats near the border.
At times, he also broke with his party, drawing praise from some corners and criticism from others—including a censure by the Texas Republican Party in 2023 after votes on gun safety and same-sex marriage legislation.
Gonzales said he will formally file his retirement when Congress returns, though the exact timing of his departure remains unclear.
Once the seat is officially vacant, Texas law requires the governor to call a special election. The race is expected to draw national attention, given the district’s competitive nature and narrow margins in the House.
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