At least two members of the Bush family — a dynasty of prominent Texas Republicans — are officially supporting Democrat James Talarico’s U.S. Senate campaign.
Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, recently made a donation supporting the state rep’s bid to become the first Democrat to win a statewide election in Texas in three decades, FEC filings show.
Additionally, George W. Bush’s brother Neil shared a Facebook post Tuesday saying he had voted for Talarico after being “enormously impressed” by the candidate’s character and principles.
“I see in him the qualities I admire most in public servants: integrity, civility, humility, and a willingness to listen to those with whom he disagrees,” Neil Bush said. “My impression is that he is a principled, pragmatic leader who understands that public office is a responsibility to serve, not an entitlement to power.”
Bush said he’s been “deeply troubled” by decisions that Talarico’s rival, Republican Ken Paxton, made as Texas attorney general, including challenging the 2020 election results.
“My concerns about his judgment and conduct are hardly mine alone,” Bush added. “He was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House, although subsequently acquitted by the Texas Senate.”
Neil Bush blamed President Donald Trump and the environment his leadership has fostered for allowing someone like Paxton to flourish.
“More broadly, I believe Donald Trump and those who have enabled him have done enormous damage to the Republican Party,” Bush said. “I worry about a political culture in which loyalty to an individual takes precedence over loyalty to principle, and where those who hold power begin to believe they are no longer accountable.”
While Bush assured his Facebook followers that he still holds many conservative values, he explained that he crossed the aisle for this race in hope of healing divisions that have “damaged” the nation.
“I have been a Republican for most of my life, and I still believe deeply in many traditional Republican principles. But character matters more than party affiliation,” Bush said. “Our democracy depends on leaders who respect our institutions, tell the truth, accept accountability, and seek to unite rather than divide.”
“Today, I voted against a style of politics that I believe has damaged our country,” he added. “More importantly, I voted for the kind of character and leadership I hope will help heal it.”
Barbara Bush’s Talarico campaign contribution
Former first daughter Barbara Bush — who shares the name of the late grandmother, the former first lady — also threw the weight of the Bush dynasty behind Talarico by contributing $2,500 to his Lone Star Rising PAC in September.
Lone Star Rising PAC is the primary source of outside spending supporting Talarico, according to Houston Public Media.
George W. Bush’s daughter Barbara is the twin sister of NBC host Jenna Bush Hager.
Political observers note that if the former first daughter wanted her donation to remain a secret, she could have. The fact that she didn’t could be seen as significant.
“I would imagine that somebody in such a prominent political family, if she wanted to ensure that her contribution was anonymous or not visible, that any number of lawyers that they probably have at their disposal could have told her how,” Andrew Cates, a political attorney and campaign finance expert told Houston Public Media. “She didn’t give it to a [501] (c)(4), in which her contribution would have been completely anonymous. She gave it to a PAC that reports all the money in and out.”
Even so, Cates told the NPR affiliate that $2,500 is a relatively small amount considering Talarico is the top Democratic fundraiser in the country, having raised a total of $127.3 million for his race.
“It’s not like Elon Musk money, obviously,” Cates said, “but it is interesting and maybe potentially a little bit telling on where the center GOP establishment is leaning and where they feel like the race is headed.”
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