Trending Now - Texas District to Elect New Representative After Tragedy

WHO:

President Trump

Rep. Tony Gonzales, incumbent representative of Texas’ 23rd District

Brandon Herrera, gun influencer and main opponent of Gonzales

James Talarico, state representative and candidate in the Texas Senate primary

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, opponent of Talarico in the Senate primary

Sen. John Cornyn, incumbent senator facing a runoff

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and candidate in the runoff

Kyle Rittenhouse, gunman involved in a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest

WHAT:

Gonzales faced a sex scandal involving an affair with a female staffer.

The staffer died on September 13th, 2025, from self-immolation.

Gonzales admitted to the affair but continued his campaign until he was forced into a runoff with Herrera.

Herrera is known for his controversial online content and has over 4 million subscribers on YouTube.

Talarico won the Texas Senate primary by a six-point margin over Crockett.

Talarico's victory is seen as a potential shift for Democrats in Texas, which has not seen a Senate victory for nearly 40 years.

Talarico's campaign emphasizes a coalition of progressives, liberals, independent voters, and disaffected conservatives.

WHERE:

Texas’ 23rd District, a majority-Hispanic district along the Mexican border

Texas, with a population of 31 million residents, of which at least 40% are Latino

WHEN:

The affair involving Gonzales occurred in 2024.

The staffer died on September 13th, 2025.

Talarico's primary victory occurred on March 8th, 2026.

WHY:

Gonzales' scandal was deemed a greater liability than Herrera's controversial past.

Talarico's campaign aims to address systemic issues in politics rather than blaming a single individual.

HOW:

Herrera's campaign utilized provocative content and social media to gain support.

Talarico's campaign strategy focuses on building a broad coalition and addressing systemic political issues.

(UPDATED March 9, 2026 23:08 UTC)

In a significant political shake-up in Texas, Rep. Tony Gonzales has been forced into a runoff against gun influencer Brandon Herrera after admitting to an affair with a deceased staffer, who tragically died by self-immolation last September. Meanwhile, James Talarico has won the Texas Senate primary by a six-point margin over Rep. Jasmine Crockett, marking a potential shift for Democrats in a state that hasn't seen a Senate victory in nearly 40 years. Talarico's campaign has focused on uniting progressives, liberals, and disaffected conservatives to tackle systemic political issues, contrasting with Herrera's provocative online strategy.