Rep.-elect Tony Gonzales (R-Texas-23)

Date of birth: Oct. 10, 1980
Residence: San Antonio
Occupation: former Navy cryptologist
Education: A.A., Charminade University; B.S., Excelsior College; M.A., American Public University; graduate certificate, Georgetown University; Ph.D. candidate, University of Southern Mississippi
Family: wife, Angel; six children: Christina, Jesus, Emmanuel, Daniel, Gabriel, Izzy

Tony Gonzales will succeed retiring Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) to represent the 23rd Congressional District, the largest in the state, stretching from San Antonio to El Paso.

Gonzales, a 20-year Navy veteran, returns to Washington where he was previously a Department of Defense legislative fellow to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

“Tony Gonzales is a true conservative, and I was proud to support him in his successful campaign for Congress,” Rubio told The Hill.

Gonzales retired from the Navy in 2019 after 20 years of service, having reached the highest noncommissioned rank, master chief petty officer.

He deployed in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to security operations throughout Asia.

Gonzales retired from the Navy shortly before announcing his intent to run for Congress, at first for the 35th District, but he switched to the 23rd District after Hurd announced his retirement.

After narrowly defeating Raul Reyes Jr., an Air Force veteran, in the Republican primary, Gonzales faced off against Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, also an Air Force veteran, whom he defeated by 4 percentage points in the general election.

“I know Tony will represent the people of Texas well, and I look forward to working with him next Congress,” Rubio said.

– Rafael Bernal