EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales has taken a lead on what is still a close GOP primary runoff election for Texas 23rd Congressional District.
Gonzales led challenger Brandon Herrera, aka “The AK Guy,” by a margin of 10,235 votes to 8,688 with 40 percent of the West Texas precincts reporting in Tuesday’s runoff election, according to unofficial results released by the Texas Secretary of State at 7:45 p.m. MST. Gonzales won the early vote in El Paso County 157 votes to 146, according to the El Paso Elections Department website.
YouTuber and firearms manufacturer Herrera took advantage of a rift brewing for over a year between Gonzales and the State Republican Party to give himself a chance to unseat the incumbent. The state GOP last year censured Gonzales for voting in favor of a gun-control bill in the House weeks after the Uvalde school massacre that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary.
Herrera campaigned vigorously on social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter and often posted videos of himself with veterans and fellow gun enthusiasts.
“Now that polls have closed and before results come in, let me make a statement directly from my heart. No political motive, no bias, just me. Thank you,” he tweeted.
Gonzales went on the offensive in political ads, but in interviews emphasized his experience and knowledge of the issues – from border security to promoting trade with Mexico.
Gonzales is a two-term incumbent.
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