WASHINGTON — Two-term Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, is fighting for his political future in one of the nation’s most closely watched Republican primaries. Gonzales represents the 23rd Congressional District of Texas, a sprawling South Texas district that includes more than 800 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, stretching from El Paso to San Antonio.
The centrist is being challenged by a hard-right social media influencer with more than 3 million followers on YouTube, Brandon Herrera.
Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. House, Gonzales joined other House Republicans in denouncing President Joe Biden’s border and immigration policies.
“If you truly believe in securing the border, you will vote yes on this resolution,” Gonzales said.
But Gonzalez is not always in tune with other House Republicans — or at least the party’s hard-right wing. The San Antonio Republican tore into ultraconservatives last month after they voted against providing $95 billion in assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
“I serve with some real scumbags like Matt Gaetz,” Gonzales said, speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The split between Gonzalez and hardline House Republicans is playing out in his primary runoff against Herrera, a gun rights activist and conservative YouTuber who calls himself “the AK Guy.” Gaetz campaigned with Herrera in San Antonio in March.
The runoff is taking place after Gonzalez failed to capture more than 50% of the vote in the March primary.
“I’m asking for your vote, so we can have a congressman who will put America first,” Herrera said in an ad.
Gonzales is a more moderate Republican who was sanctioned by the state party over his votes to protect same-sex marriage and enact new gun safety measures in the wake of the Uvalde mass shooting, which is in the district. The hardline House Freedom Caucus also is not happy with Gonzales.
On social media, Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Bob Good, R-Virginia said, “Thankfully, the people of the Texas 23rd District can vote for change and an America first patriot in Brandon Herrera.”
But House Speaker Mike Johnson is endorsing Gonzales’ reelection and so are Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Dan Patrick.
In a statement, Abbott said that he was confident that Gonzales would work to designate Mexico drug cartels as terrorists and reinstate the Trump-era policy that requires migrants to wait in Mexico as their legal process plays out.
“I’ve hosted over 200 members of Congress. Heck, I even hosted the richest man on Earth, Elon Musk, to bring highlight to what is happening. I think in many cases, that is the reason why Border Patrol Council is endorsing me and why I have the support of the men and women in green,” Gonzales said in a recent call with journalists.
Gonzales, who served in the Navy, announced this week a six-figure ad buy featuring other veterans in support of his candidacy. It highlighted a comment Herrera, who is not a veteran, made in a YouTube video from February where he talked about a joke he decided not to use in a speech: “If it makes everybody in the room feel better, I often think about putting a gun in my mouth, so I’m basically an honorary veteran.”
“Veteran suicide is real. If you listen to Brandon Herrera, he thinks that’s a joke,” veterans said in the Gonzales ad.
“These aren’t just words, it’s part of my identity, and it’s also, I think, a big part of this district. This district is very veteran centric, and to have somebody say some words like that, that mocks veteran suicide, is a disqualifier in many cases,” Gonzales said.
Herrera said those comments were taken out of context and he has a lot of veteran support. Herrera grew up in North Carolina.
“I guarantee we’ve raised more for veterans than you ever have, and that’s a promise. Shame on you,” Herera said on social media.
He called Gonzales anti-gun and a Republican in name only.
“Let’s tango,” Herrera said in a YouTube video this year. “A couple of months ago I was not a serious candidate and just a YouTuber and a joke but on the March 5th primary one of the best funded Republican incumbents in the state of Texas couldn’t even guarantee he would keep his seat because of me. And now, with the polling I’ve been looking at, he’s got good reason to be worried.”
Gonzales captured 45% of the vote in the primary, compared to Herrera’s 25%. Gonzales is raising far more money with more than $1.5 million cash on hand compared to Herrera, who has more than $302,000 in the bank.
The runoff election is May 28.