Texas Republican Tony Gonzales Faces Primary Defeat Over Ukraine Aid Stance

By John Gizzi
Wednesday, February 25, 2026

A private poll conducted for primary opponent Brandon Herrera reveals the Republican challenger, who came within 400 votes of defeating the two-term congressman in the 2024 primary, now leads Rep. Tony Gonzales by a margin of roughly 40% to 20% among likely voters in Texas’ 23rd District (San Antonio-West Texas).

Herrera, known as the “AK Guy” for his free-wheeling comments on gun ownership, has taken a starkly opposed stance on Ukraine aid. While Gonzales is a strong supporter of U.S. military and economic assistance to Ukraine in its four-year war with Russia, Herrera has vigorously denounced the incumbent for voting in favor of the April 2024 supplemental measure that provided $60 billion.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 311-to-112, with 112 Republicans opposing it and one representative—Pennsylvania’s Dan Meuser—voting present. Three Republican members who opposed the Ukraine supplemental—Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Bob Good (R-Va.), and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.)—campaigned for Herrera in the 2024 primary.

“Last cycle there were no primary losses for Ukraine supporters,” said Steve Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project. “House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole faced a self-funding opponent in Oklahoma’s 2nd District who attacked his support of Ukraine and won with 64% to 25%.”

Gonzales’ likely defeat marks the first loss by a sitting Republican House member who supports Ukraine at the hands of an opponent who opposes such aid.