The Texas Republican Party held its annual convention in San Antonio, with GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales expressing ambivalence about attending as one of the featured speakers was Rep. Matt Gaetz, who had endorsed Gonzales’ opponent, Brandon Herrera, in the GOP primary runoff. Gonzales had been censured by the party last year for his vote on gun control legislation in response to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, which happened in his district. Gonzales failed to secure 50% of the vote in the March primary, leading to a runoff with Herrera, with the winner facing Democrat Santos Limon in November.
Herrera only won 24% of the vote in the March primary, but Gonzales faced challenges in the runoff due to the likelihood of low turnout, favoring more fervent voters. Gonzales has been positioned as the pragmatic choice compared to Herrera, who has been critical of Gonzales’ gun legislation vote. The situation in the 23rd District reflects a common trend in Texas politics, where incumbents face challenges from primary challengers due to not aligning completely with the most conservative voters in their district.
Gonzales has received endorsements from GOP establishment figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, while Herrera has been backed by members of the House Freedom Caucus. Gonzales has portrayed himself as a governing conservative, contrasting with what he sees as bomb-throwing gestures from his opponents. Trump has not endorsed in the race, and Gonzales has significantly outraised Herrera in campaign funds. Gonzales defended his vote on the gun control legislation, highlighting the positive impact of increased background checks for minors.
Gonzales has faced criticism for moving further to the right on border issues, aligning more closely with Herrera, in contrast to his previous positioning as a pragmatic choice. The 23rd District was once considered a swing district but became considerably redder after redistricting in 2020. The outcome of the primary and general election is uncertain, with questions about Herrera’s electability even in a district favoring Republicans. Gonzales, who was elected in 2020 after Will Hurd decided not to run again, faces a tough challenge from Herrera, who has capitalized on criticisms of Gonzales’ gun control vote and perceived shift in position on border issues.
