Texas GOP Sets Vote to Censure Rep. Tony Gonzales for Violating Party Principles

Congressman Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) speaks at the bipartisan meeting about border patrol suicide rates at the House Triangle in Washington on Dec. 7, 2022. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The Texas Republican Party is set to censure Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) on March 4 over what the resolution says is diverging from GOP values.

San Antonio Report, a nonprofit outlet, first reported the development. Texas GOP spokesperson James Wesolek confirmed the upcoming vote to The Epoch Times on March 2. Gonzales has the option of being present at the vote to make his voice heard. It is not clear if he will do so.

A three-fifths vote from the state Republican committee is needed to pass the resolution, which originated and was approved by the Medina County Republican Party last month. The resolution was permissible in accordance with a Texas GOP rule that a censure resolution may be brought up if the target of the censure took three or more actions that go against the Texas GOP platform.

The resolution accuses Gonzales, who has been in Congress since Jan. 3, 2021, of casting votes antithetical to the Texas GOP’s values.

The censure measure cites Gonzales voting twice in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which enshrined federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage into law. It also requires states to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in December. Gonzales’ vote, stated the resolution, went against the Texas GOP’s belief in “self-sufficient families, founded on the traditional marriage of a natural man and a natural woman.”

The resolution blasts Gonzales for being the only Republican to vote against the House rules package in January that included the establishment of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Gonzales cited the potential defense cuts as a “horrible idea.” The resolution said by voting against the package, Gonzales violated four core principles of the Texas GOP including “preserving individual, Texan, and American sovereignty and freedom.”

The censure measure cites Gonzales, who represents Texas’ 23rd Congressional District—which includes a part of the U.S.-Mexico border—voting against the Border Safety and Security Act of 2023, which authorizes the Homeland Security secretary “to suspend the entry of aliens, and for other purposes.” Gonzales claimed the bill would prohibit “all asylum, to include legitimate asylum.” The state party said that Gonzales’ vote against the bill went against the Texas GOP’s platform to “secure the border and protect Texans.”

The resolution cites Gonzales taking other votes deemed antithetical to the Texas GOP including for a bipartisan gun safety law, and for voting for the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Gonzales’ congressional office did not respond to a request from The Epoch Times for comment on the resolution.