Rep. Gonzales Faces Runoff Against YouTuber Brandon Herrera

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales and gun-rights YouTuber Brandon Herrera advanced to a May 26 primary runoff after neither secured a majority in Tuesday’s contest. The Associated Press called the race at 1:23 a.m. ET, with each candidate holding about 42.5% of the vote and roughly three‑quarters of ballots counted; Marine veteran Keith Barton and former congressman Francisco Canseco trailed with under 10% each.

Gonzales, a Navy veteran who has represented Texas’ 23rd Congressional District since January 2021, narrowly beat Herrera in the 2024 Republican primary. Herrera, a gun manufacturer and influencer who calls himself “the AK Guy” and has more than 4 million YouTube subscribers, ran as a more conservative alternative to the incumbent.

Gonzales was censured by the Texas GOP in 2023 after voting for gun safety legislation and the codification of same‑sex marriage.

United States, Texas

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