Gun Rights Activist With Alleged Nazi Ties to Become GOP Nominee in Texas Congressional Race

A gun-rights activist known for his YouTube channel featuring Nazi-era firearms is poised to become the Republican nominee for a closely watched congressional district in West Texas. This comes after Representative Tony Gonzales dropped out of the race following revelations of an affair and an ethics investigation. The outcome raises concerns about the direction of the Republican party in the district and the potential for extremist views to gain prominence in Congress.

Gonzales’s Exit and Herrera’s Rise

Representative Tony Gonzales conceded the race on Thursday, March 6, 2026, after facing mounting pressure from within his party. Gonzales admitted to an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide, and was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Prior to his withdrawal, Gonzales had called his opponent, Brandon Herrera, a “known neo-Nazi” during their first primary matchup in 2024, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Brandon Herrera, known online as “The AK Guy,” gained more votes than Gonzales in the initial primary. With Gonzales out of the race, Herrera is now the presumptive Republican nominee for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District. He will face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in the November general election. Fox 26 Houston reports that the district heavily favors Republicans.

Controversies Surrounding Brandon Herrera

Herrera’s YouTube channel, boasting over 4 million subscribers, features firearms reviews and demonstrations with historical weaponry. But, his content has drawn criticism for its apparent glorification of Nazi-era firearms and imagery. The JTA reports that Herrera posted a video in March 2025 featuring a bust of Adolf Hitler.

Further scrutiny of Herrera’s online presence reveals videos where he and collaborators reenacted the Nazi goose step and salute while playing Nazi music. He also reportedly made controversial statements, including calling a Nazi weapon the “original ghetto blaster” and mocking veteran suicides. Herrera has denied being a neo-Nazi, stating on X (formerly Twitter) in 2024, “It should be obvious, but I am not and never have been a neo-Nazi.”

The 23rd Congressional District

Texas’s 23rd Congressional District encompasses a large area of West Texas, including parts of San Antonio and El Paso, and the city of Uvalde, the site of a tragic elementary school shooting in 2022. The district has a Hispanic and Republican majority, but Democrats spot an opportunity to gain ground with Katy Padilla Stout, a lawyer and former teacher. The JTA notes that widespread dissatisfaction with the Trump administration could benefit Stout’s campaign.