Gonzales, Tony

Tony Gonzales represents Texas's 23rd congressional district in the House of Representatives as a member of the Republican Party, having first been elected in 2020. Before entering Congress, he served 20 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a master chief petty officer with expertise in cryptology and intelligence. During his naval career, he was deployed as aircrew to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, received an air medal for his service, and worked in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs. He also served as a Department of Defense fellow in Senator Marco Rubio's office and taught political science at the University of Maryland.

In Congress, Gonzales serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security, with specific focus on border security, counterterrorism, and intelligence matters. His legislative work reflects his background in defense and security policy, with sponsored bills addressing military compensation, law enforcement equipment, border infrastructure, and personnel retention within federal agencies.

Gonzales has demonstrated independence from party orthodoxy on certain votes. In 2023, he was censured by the Texas Republican Party for supporting the Respect for Marriage Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. He was also one of only 18 Republicans to vote against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House on all three voting rounds, and the sole Republican to subsequently vote against the House rules package. These positions prompted conservative primary challengers in 2024, including YouTuber Brandon Herrera, though Gonzales won the runoff election with 50.7 percent of the vote.