(The Center Square) – Resignations in the U.S. House are set to throw two new people into the race for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
U.S. Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Both men resigned from Congress after allegations of sexual harassment plagued the two individuals. Gonzales already withdrew his name from running a fourth term after allegations he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide.
“It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Texas’ twenty-third congressional district,” Gonzales wrote in a statement read on the floor of the U.S. House on Tuesday.
Gonzales will be eligible to receive a pension starting at $8,728 in 2042. He will also leave a potentially competitive U.S. House race in Texas.
Brandon Herrera, a gun rights activist, is set to take over Gonzales’ nomination after the two were set for a May 26 runoff Republican primary for the district seat. Gonzales dropped his bid for reelection before resigning from Congress.
The Texas district is considered a “toss up” race by the Cook Political Report, which means either party has a good chance of winning.
Herrera was endorsed by President Donald Trump in March. The president called Herrera a “MAGA warrior” and praised his policy preferences.
Trump said Herrera would advocate for strong border protections, school choice, military protections and lower taxes.
Herrera praised the accountability for Gonzales’ “sexual improprieties” but said he was disappointed to leave Texas’ 23rd congressional district without federal representation.
“I promise to do everything in my power to advocate for the constituents of this district at a federal level in the interim until I’m able to take the seat officially after November,” Herrera said.
The Texas Republican will still need to face off against a Democrat challenger in Katy Padilla Stout for control of the 23rd congressional district.
Democrats have pushed to flip the district, which has maintained firm Republican control since 2014. Previously, the district flipped between Democrat and Republican lawmakers.
Stout called for Gov. Greg Abbott to hold a special election while the seat is vacated by Gonzales.
“TX-23 constituents pay federal taxes,” Stout wrote. “Are they asking us to send in checks to the IRS tomorrow without a member of Congress to represent us?”
Stout has advocated for universal pre-kindergarten, expanding medicare and regulating Trump’s ability to impose tariffs as part of her campaign.
“We need a tax code which empowers the middle class and raises people from poverty into the middle class,” Stout wrote.
Texas law does not require the governor to call for a special election in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom is required to call a special election within 14 days of a vacancy. Once Newsom issues a formal proclamation, a special election must be held between 126 and 140 days later.
California’s 14th congressional district is considered a solid Democratic district, and has traditionally been led by a Democrat representative.
However, California’s June 2 primary could allow Newsom to have discretion in how the seat is filled in Congress.
Transit director Melissa Hernandez, small business owner Matt Ortega and businesswoman Carin Elam are running to take over Swalwell’s seat after he announced his bid for California governor.
These two races will represent unique parts of the upcoming 2026 midterm elections where parties seek to dominate control of Congress.
