The Texas Republican Party held its annual convention in San Antonio this past weekend, with GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents part of San Antonio, feeling ambivalent about attending. Gonzales is facing a primary runoff against Brandon Herrera, who was endorsed by Rep. Matt Gaetz. Gonzales was censured by the Texas Republican Party last year over his vote for gun control legislation introduced after the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. Despite receiving endorsements from GOP establishment figures, Gonzales faces a tough challenge from Herrera in the runoff.
Herrera, a 28-year-old YouTube celebrity known as “The AK Guy,” received only 24% of the vote in the March primary but has been a headache for Gonzales in the runoff. With a low-turnout election expected, political science professor Mark Jones noted that anything can happen in such a scenario, making it a challenging fight for Gonzales. Herrera has continually criticized Gonzales over his gun legislation vote, positioning himself as a more conservative alternative to the incumbent.
The Uvalde vote and Gonzales’ support for gun control legislation has created the conditions for a primary challenge from Herrera, according to Joshua Blank of the Texas Politics Project. Gonzales has received endorsements from GOP establishment figures, while Herrera has been endorsed by House Freedom Caucus members. Gonzales has positioned himself as a pragmatic conservative, while Herrera’s far-right campaign aligns him with figures like Gaetz and the Freedom Caucus.
Gonzales has defended his vote for gun control legislation, stating that he worked to ensure the bill protected the Constitution while addressing some issues. Despite knowing the vote would hurt him politically, Gonzales maintains that he is not afraid of the consequences. The 23rd District, which includes much of the U.S.-Mexico border area, has seen immigration as a less contentious issue compared to gun control. Gonzales, who was first elected in 2020 after Rep. Will Hurd decided not to run again, has faced challenges from more extremist candidates like Herrera in the redistricted district.
The 23rd District, once considered a swing district in Texas, has become considerably redder after redistricting following the 2020 election. If Herrera wins the primary runoff, Blank notes that it remains an open question whether he is an electable candidate in a general election, even in a district drawn to favor Republicans. The battle between Gonzales and Herrera reflects larger tensions within the Republican Party, with Gonzales representing a more pragmatic governing conservative approach and Herrera aligning with more extreme elements of the party.
