‘AK Guy’ campaigns with GOP firebrand
Brandon Herrera, the socalled AK Guy forcing U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales into a primary runoff, brought U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to San Antonio as he ramps up campaign efforts ahead of the May 28 election.
The appearance came hours after the GOP House speaker reportedly criticized members for campaigning against their colleagues in what will likely be a tough election year for Republicans looking to maintain or expand their slim majority.
Standing before a crowd of more than 200 people Thursday at the Angry Elephant in northern San Antonio, Herrera celebrated his No. 2 finish in last week’s primary election and trashed Gonzales, who has represented the sprawling 23rd Congressional District since 2021. Gaetz also took aim at his colleague, calling the former Navy cryptologist a “lackluster congressman.”
“The turnout of this room just might be the amount of votes required to win this runoff,” Herrera said.
Gonzales is the only GOP member of Congress in Texas facing a runoff election after being heavily targeted for his 2022 votes to codify same-sex marriage rights and tighten background checks for young gun buyers. The 23rd District leans Republican but is one of the only congressional districts in Texas that could be competitive in November.
Gaetz is known as a strong ally of former President Donald Trump and a far-right firebrand who helped lead the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin Mccarthy from his job last year.
“Tony Gonzales votes with the uniparty,” Gaetz said. “He votes with the uniparty and against the interests of the America First movement.”
Herrera said Gaetz’s comments will resonate with voters in the 23rd District because “he ruffles a lot of feathers. He makes a lot of noise, and he upsets the right people.”
Both Gaetz and Herrera, a gun manufacturer and social media personality, went after Gonzales for his vote on the Bipartisan
“And the way I look at it is Tony has a lead, but not for a financed establishment Republican, because to go to a runoff at all means most of the people voted against you.”
Brandon Herrera, candidate for 23rd Congressional District
Safer Communities Act, which Congress passed just weeks after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Gonzales represents Uvalde and has defended his vote.
The pair also criticized Gonzales for his views on immigration, taking issue with his opposition to a strict border security plan introduced last year by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin.
Gonzales said Roy’s plan was “anti-immigrant,” but he has supported other GOP efforts to crack down on the border, including a recent effort to impeach U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Gonzales’ district includes the largest stretch of the Texas-mexico border.
Gaetz suggested Gonzales was a Republican who voted and acted like a Democrat. Gonzales’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, Gonzales has been rolling out a slate of new endorsements since last Tuesday’s primary. He announced Thursday that the GOP House leadership team, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, are backing his reelection bid. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also endorsed Gonzales on Wednesday.
“Since his first day in office, Congressman Tony Gonzales has led the charge to secure our southern border,” Johnson said. “From hosting our Republican conference in his district to being one of our strongest advocates for tougher border security policies, Tony has gone above and beyond to keep the pressure on this issue and restore law and order across our nation.”
At a House GOP retreat in West Virginia on Thursday, Johnson criticized members who are campaigning against incumbents in their own districts, Axios reported. Gaetz acknowledged House leadership is “a little upset with me today” but said it was important that he come to San Antonio and move his conservative priorities forward.
“They’re having the Republican congressional retreat in West Virginia,” Gaetz said. “And pardon me for saying so, but doesn’t it sort of feel like congressional Republicans have been in a state of constant retreat?”
Gonzales did not attend the GOP retreat and is back in Texas. He hosted a tele-town hall Thursday evening.
The congressman came first in last week’s primary with about 45% of the vote, but he fell short of the simple majority needed to avoid a runoff. He had four primary challengers, including Herrera, who earned 25%.
Herrera now has the backing of at least two of the other opponents: Julie Clark, the former chair of the Medina County GOP, and Victor Avila, a retired supervisory special agent for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I always knew we were all on the same team,” Herrera said of the other Gonzales challengers. “And the way I look at it is Tony has a lead, but not for a financed establishment Republican, because to go to a runoff at all means most of the people voted against you.”
Mary Kull, a 73-year-old attendee from San Antonio, said she initially supported Avila’s campaign but plans to go all in for Herrera now.
“Everybody complains, but nobody wants to do anything about it,” Kull said. “And the one thing we can do about it is vote.”