How gun-loving Brandon Herrera won Texas 23rd District primary and the role played by Rep. Tony Gonzalez

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales has dropped out of the Republican primary race for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, effectively handing victory to challenger Brandon Herrera and making him the GOP nominee for the seat.

Gonzales’ withdrawal came after he acknowledged having an extramarital relationship with a former congressional staff member, a development that triggered political pressure within the Republican Party and scrutiny from House leadership.

With Gonzales exiting the race, Herrera becomes the Republican nominee for Texas’ 23rd District ahead of the general election.



“I appreciate Tony Gonzales for making the appropriate decision,” Herrera said. “I look forward to being the voice of TX23 that our district deserves. From the border, to oil theft, water rights, data centers, and many other issues. It’s an honor to be chosen and together we will make Texas proud.”

Who is Brandon Herrera?

Brandon Herrera, 30, is a gun-rights activist, entrepreneur and social media personality who built a national following through online firearms content. Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Herrera later relocated to Texas where he launched a firearms manufacturing business and developed a large digital audience.

He is best known for his YouTube channel focused on firearms reviews, gun technology and Second Amendment advocacy. The channel has attracted millions of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views, making Herrera one of the most prominent gun-related content creators in the United States.

Herrera also gained attention as a firearms designer, particularly for developing the AK-50 rifle, a powerful firearm intended to combine the AK-style platform with a .50-caliber cartridge. Online, he is widely known by the nickname “The AK Guy.”

Herrera’s campaign has focused heavily on defending Second Amendment rights and strengthening border security. He has positioned himself as a populist conservative closely aligned with the political movement of Donald Trump.

His candidacy has drawn strong support from gun-rights activists and grassroots conservatives who favor a more hardline approach to federal policy and border enforcement.

Herrera’s large online following also gave him a unique advantage in fundraising and grassroots mobilization during the primary campaign.