The executive committee of the Republican Party of Texas voted Saturday to censure Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio. They have a beef with his votes on same-sex marriage and strengthening existing gun laws. Gonzales’ district includes Uvalde, Texas. The resolution passed 57-5. The chairman abstained and one member did not vote. A three-fifths majority, or 39 of the 64-member committee, was needed to approve the censure.

The debate lasted for more than an hour in an executive session. It was closed to the public. This means the state party will not financially support Gonzales during the Republican primary next year. The party will discourage Gonzales from running as a Republican or re-election and will likely back a primary opponent.

The penalties levied by the party will expire the day after the primary runoff election next spring, meaning Gonzales could receive funding for a general election contest. In a release, the Texas GOP said it censured Gonzales for “lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities.”

The statewide vote came after the Medina County GOP censured Gonzales last month. In addition to the votes on same-sex marriage and guns, members cited his opposition to a border security bill proposed by his Texas colleague, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Austin, that Gonzales characterized as “anti-immigration.”

Gonzales was also the only Republican to vote “no” on a House rules package proposed under the new GOP majority in Washington. He had raised concerns about potential cuts to the country’s defense budget.

Fifteen other counties in Gonzales’ district, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, passed resolutions concurring with the Medina County Republicans.

Gonzales is a two-term Republican congressman. He turned his district from blue to red. Gonzales knows what his constituents expect of him and that is how he votes. That is as it should be. Would it be nice if he voted 100% with all other Republicans? Yes. But that isn’t reality. Ronald Reagan understood that but apparently, the Republican Party of Texas hasn’t learned that lesson. The censure is short-sighted. I don’t think Gonzales will lose his primary race if he runs for re-election but if he does, there is no guarantee that an even more conservative Republican would keep the district a red one. If they think Gonzales is too liberal with a couple of his votes, how will they like a Democrat taking the district back?

Gonzales is no liberal. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Gonzales is a pro-life husband and father of six children. He is a solid border hawk. He is a law and order Republican. He was invited to attend the meeting and chose not to do that. Instead, he spent the morning putting up yard signs across San Antonio that oppose the city’s Proposition A. It would decriminalize abortion and low-level marijuana possession.

Gonzales easily won his second term in Congress, receiving 56% of the vote. He has the support of the National Republican Congressional Committee. It commented after the censure vote. The NRCC said Gonzales is a “valued member of the House majority, and we look forward to supporting his re-election.”

The history of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) shows some ineffectiveness. The only other Republican to be censured was former House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio, a moderate Republican. They did that in 2018 but it was months after Straus announced he would not run for re-election.

What caused the SREC to accuse Gonzales of a “lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities?”

Members took issue with his votes to protect same-sex marriage and bolster existing gun laws, as well as his opposition to a border security bill that Gonzales characterized as “anti-immigration.”

Gonzales was also the only Republican to vote “no” on a House rules package proposed under the new GOP majority in Washington. He had raised concerns about potential cuts to the country’s defense budget.

He offered a response to the censure.

¡No mames RPT! Puro pedo. #GrowingUpMexicanAmerican pic.twitter.com/LN043jDlYk

— Tony Gonzales (@TonyGonzales4TX) March 5, 2023

Gonzales stands by his votes. His office responded Saturday after the vote.

The congressman said he stands by his positions — especially last year’s firearm vote, which came after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, which is part of his 23rd Congressional District.

His campaign delivered a more diplomatic response on Saturday after the censure: “Today, like every day, Congressman Tony Gonzales went to work on behalf of the people of TX-23. He talked to veterans, visited with Border Patrol agents and met with constituents in a county he flipped from blue to red. The Republican Party of Texas would be wise to follow his lead and do some actual work.”

We’ll see how his constituents react to his voting record in Congress. So far, they are pleased and that means Gonzales is doing his job.

Sunday Gonzales tweeted he is a co-sponsor of the Parents’ Bill of Rights Act.

As a father of 6, I am proud to co-sponsor the Parents’ Bill of Rights Act to keep parents at the forefront of any decision that involves their child’s education. pic.twitter.com/b3xPH79mpQ

— Rep. Tony Gonzales (@RepTonyGonzales) March 5, 2023

On Monday, Gonzales was leading his 16th congressional delegation in Uvalde and Eagle Pass to see the Biden border crisis up close..

Hosting my 16th congressional delegation today in Uvalde and Eagle Pass with @RepMariaSalazar, @RepHouchin, @RepAaronBean, & @JMoylanforGuam.

We will see firsthand the harsh realities of this border crisis and see how we can deliver. Follow along ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/KN1xGuqTpu

— Rep. Tony Gonzales (@RepTonyGonzales) March 6, 2023