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Brandon Herrera, the gun rights activist and YouTuber who nearly unseated U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales in last year’s Republican primary, has successfully raised over $1 million in his renewed campaign against the San Antonio congressman. This impressive fundraising figure has surpassed his previous total from the 2024 election cycle, all with more than three months remaining before the primary.
Since launching his campaign in August, Herrera has amassed slightly more than $1.1 million, which includes contributions to his various political action committees (PACs) as well as a personal loan of $100,000 to his campaign made in September. Notably, over $1 million of the total funds raised is available for expenditure in the upcoming March 3 primary.
In a press release announcing his financial achievements, Herrera leveled accusations against Gonzales, suggesting he compromised his marriage. This claim references media reports regarding an alleged extramarital affair with a congressional aide who tragically passed away earlier this year after self-immolating. Gonzales has strongly denied these allegations, which were initially highlighted by conservative outlet Current Revolt and the British publication Daily Mail, during a recent appearance at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin.
“While my opponent Tony Gonzales has prioritized betraying President Trump and distracting himself with extramarital affairs with his congressional staff, I’ve been diligently listening to the voters of Southwest Texas, responding to their demand for a new representative with integrity who will support President Trump, advocate for greater affordability, and uphold our Constitutional rights,” Herrera stated, identifying himself as a conservative aligned with the party’s hardline faction.
During his appearance at TribFest, Gonzales addressed the alleged affair for the first time, which reportedly involved his district director, Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, who died by suicide in her Uvalde home. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed her death to multiple media outlets in San Antonio. The Daily Mail later reported that Santos-Aviles’ husband, Adrian Aviles, was aware of the supposed relationship, and the couple was reportedly separated at the time of her passing.
“The rumors are completely false, and Regina’s family has requested privacy,” Gonzales, a married father of six, stated, adding that he was not informed about the circumstances surrounding her death and was awaiting a final report from law enforcement.
The Texas Tribune has not independently verified the claims made by Current Revolt or the Daily Mail.
The impact of the controversy surrounding Gonzales’ aide on the primary remains uncertain. The winner of this GOP contest is expected to have a significant advantage in the November general election, as the district stretches from San Antonio to the outskirts of El Paso, where Gonzales won reelection by nearly 25 points last fall.
At present, Gonzales enjoys a substantial financial lead over Herrera, with over $2.5 million in his campaign account as of the end of September. Notably, Gonzales had previously led in fundraising throughout their 2024 race, ultimately winning by a narrow margin of just 354 votes in a runoff, even with support from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team.
Herrera has primarily raised his campaign funds through a joint fundraising committee, which allows candidates to fundraise in collaboration with others and share the proceeds. This committee supports both his main campaign account and his leadership PAC, which can be utilized to assist other candidates. Although standard federal contribution limits still apply, candidates can employ various strategies to effectively exceed these limits, such as exchanging donations between their leadership PAC and that of another candidate.
In recent years, political candidates have increasingly relied on joint fundraising committees because they enable donors to conveniently write one substantial check that is distributed among multiple entities associated with the candidate, including leadership PACs and state or local party organizations.
Known online as “The AK Guy,” Herrera has faced criticism from both the left and right for his controversial humor. He has made jokes about veteran suicide, which drew backlash from Mike Banks, currently Trump’s Border Patrol chief, and has mocked Trump’s son, Barron. Additionally, he has made numerous jokes regarding the Holocaust and once produced a montage set to Nazi music.
Despite the controversies, some conservatives view Herrera as a champion for grassroots efforts and a counter to Gonzales, who faced backlash from activists and was censured by the Texas GOP in 2023 for supporting a bipartisan gun safety bill in 2022. With over 4 million subscribers on YouTube, Herrera has built a nationwide fundraising network fueled by small-dollar donations from over 33,000 individuals.
In an interview at the Texas Tribune Festival, Gonzales dismissed the threat posed by Herrera’s renewed challenge, stating, “I’ve beaten him multiple times, and I’ll beat him again. Call them zombies. You knock them down, they come back again.”
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