Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, one of the most moderate Republicans in the House, barely survived a runoff against YouTuber and pro-gun activist Brandon Herrera. The congressman had faced severe criticism within the Republican base, largely because he supported bipartisan gun control legislation that was signed into law months after the mass shooting at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School, which is in his district. Texas’ 23rd District stretches from El Paso to San Antonio and is larger than most states.
Outside groups, including the Speaker Mike Johnson-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund and AIPAC, spent millions of dollars boosting Gonzales and attacking Herrera, whose extensive online history was riddled with neo-Nazi imagery, Holocaust jokes, and crass comments about veteran suicides and former President Trump’s son Barron. The former president himself stayed out of the race, but several members of the Freedom Caucus had backed Herrera, including GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, who stumped for Herrera multiple times in the district, and next-door GOP Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21).
Ultimately Gonzales defeated Herrera by just a 400-vote margin (50.7%-49.3%), despite having a huge advantage financially. Herrera has
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