Voters await special election for Tony Gonzales' old seat
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Voters in Texas' 23rd Congressional District, stretching from San Antonio to El Paso, potentially could have the opportunity to vote in two separate elections on one ballot this fall.
Why it matters: The district, home to more than 778,000 people, has been without representation in Congress for more than three months since former Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct.
- The region is a critical part of Texas' cattle industry, which has been hit by an outbreak of the flesh-eating parasitic fly New World screwworm.
Catch up quick: Gonzales, who had represented the 23rd District since 2021, resigned in April amid a push for his expulsion and bipartisan calls for him to step down. He had admitted to an affair with a former staffer who died by suicide after setting herself on fire outside her Uvalde home.
- Relationships between members of Congress and their staff are prohibited under the House Code of Official Conduct.
How it works: The November ballot is a face-off between Republican candidate Brandon Herrera, a gun influencer, and Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, a lawyer and former teacher. The winner will take office in January.
- A special election would determine who will hold the currently empty seat temporarily until January.
- Herrera and Padilla Stout could decide to run in the special election — and others could jump into the race as well, creating a potentially confusing situation for voters.
What they're saying: It appears unlikely that Gov. Greg Abbott will call a special election before the November general election, Brandon Rottinghaus, political science professor at the University of Houston, tells Axios.
- The governor has broad discretion on when to call a special election, but it comes with practical implications. Holding a special election is costly for rural county election offices.
- Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris tells Axios the governor will announce a special election later on, but did not provide additional details.
Between the lines: There could also be political ramifications to holding an off-cycle special election, Rottinghaus says.
- "The political climate is trending toward the Democrats, and although this is a safe Republican seat, there's a chance that a rushed special election could become unexpectedly competitive."
- An election outside the normal schedule typically would draw low turnout, creating an "unpredictable" outcome.
State of play: Democrats have tried to paint Herrera as too extreme for the district, whose voters have previously chosen more moderate Republicans in Gonzales and former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd. Herrera, who lost to Gonzales in the 2024 GOP primary by about 400 votes, says he's not moving to the center.
- The Giffords PAC, a national group focused on gun safety, has jumped to support Padilla Stout.
The bottom line: The election is "a test to see how conservative this district is," Rottinghaus says.