Gonzales dodges bullet in GOP runoff for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A gun-enthusiast YouTuber took two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales down to the wire in the GOP runoff election for Texas District 23.

Unofficial results from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office show Gonzales appearing poised to win the race over Brandon Herrera by a margin of 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent. The Associated Press reported only 1 percent of the vote left to count (about 300 ballots) and is projecting Gonzales as the winner. The difference at the last available update was fewer than 500 votes in a House district that stretches from San Antonio to El Paso and includes more than 400 miles of U.S.-Mexico border.

“The future of America remains as bright as ever. Thank you, #TX23 for continuing to place your faith in me,” Gonzales posted on his social media accounts two hours after the last polls closed in El Paso at 7 p.m. MST.

Herrera had not conceded as of this writing. The firearms manufacturer took advantage of a rift brewing for over a year between Gonzales and the state Republican Party to give himself a chance at unseating the incumbent.

The state GOP last year censured Gonzales for voting in favor of a gun-control bill in the House weeks after the May 2022 Uvalde school massacre that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary.

Herrera campaigned vigorously on digital platforms like YouTube and Twitter, often posting videos of himself with veterans and fellow gun enthusiasts decrying any attempt to curtail their ownership of firearms. He won most Far West Texas counties including El Paso and most border counties except Maverick County. But Gonzales prevailed in heavily populated Bexar County and won iconic Uvalde County by a 10-point margin.

Gonzales spent the last weeks of the runoff campaign attacking his rival. The ads portrayed “The AK Guy” as an outsider who made fun of veteran suicides and doesn’t give former President Donald Trump a chance to win the November election. Herrera said those comments were taken out of context. His ads and social media postings showed him hanging out with veterans who endorsed him.

In interviews, Gonzales also highlighted his experience and knowledge of the issues – from border security to promoting trade with Mexico. He said he voted in the House for more assistance for veterans and for mental health resources for schoolchildren, including those in Uvalde.

Gonzales will face Democrat Santos Limon in the November general election.