A prominent member of the Bush political dynasty broke party ranks Tuesday, announcing he cast an early ballot for Democrat James Talarico in Texas’s high-stakes U.S. Senate contest.
Neil Bush, 71, the younger brother of former President George W. Bush and son of the late President George H.W. Bush, revealed his decision in a post on Facebook. Bush explained that his vote was driven by deep misgivings regarding Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and high praise for the character of Talarico, a 37-year-old Democratic state lawmaker and seminarian, CBS News reported.
“Today, I voted against a style of politics that I believe has damaged our country,” Bush wrote, according to OK! Magazine. “More importantly, I voted for the kind of character and leadership I hope will help heal it.”
Dynasty Disillusionment With Paxton and Trump
The Bush family helped establish the modern Republican dominance in Texas, beginning when George W. Bush ousted Democratic Gov. Ann Richards in 1994. Yet Neil Bush sharply rebuked the direction of the party under President Donald Trump, saying Trump and his enablers have inflicted “enormous damage to the Republican Party.”
Bush took particular aim at Paxton’s actions following the 2020 presidential race, calling the attorney general’s attempts to overturn election results in other states an attack on the peaceful transition of power. Bush acknowledged his conservative roots but emphasized that personal integrity outweighs partisan loyalty.
“I have been a Republican for most of my life, and I still believe deeply in many traditional Republican principles,” Bush wrote, according to The Guardian. “But character matters more than party affiliation. Our democracy depends on leaders who respect our institutions, tell the truth, accept accountability, and seek to unite rather than divide.”
Neil Bush noted that although he has never met Talarico in person, he was impressed by his civic temperament, noting his ability to approach difficult debates with civility, humility and a desire to bridge divides.
A Fractured Texas GOP
Paxton remains a polarizing figure in Texas politics. He was indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, a case later resolved through a pretrial diversion agreement, CBS News reported. In 2023, the Republican-led Texas House impeached Paxton on allegations of bribery and abuse of office, though the state Senate ultimately acquitted him.
Backed firmly by Trump, Paxton unseated veteran U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a combative Republican primary earlier this year. Paxton also defeated Neil Bush’s nephew, George P. Bush, in a 2022 primary contest for state attorney general, BBC News noted.
Neil Bush is not the only family member moving away from the GOP nominee. George W. Bush’s daughter, Barbara Bush, 44, has reportedly made financial contributions to Talarico’s bid, according to OK! Magazine and BBC News. While former President George H.W. Bush voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and George W. Bush has declined to back Trump, most family members have typically refrained from public attacks on sitting administrations.
What Comes Next
Early voting began Monday across Texas, with public opinion surveys showing Paxton and Talarico locked in a razor-thin contest. CBS News rates the Senate matchup as a toss-up, with Talarico holding a slight edge in recent polling.
No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate race in the Lone Star State since 1988, and the party has been shut out of statewide office for 32 years. Whether support from figures like Bush will persuade moderate Republicans to split their tickets remains to be seen when voters decide the balance of Congress on Nov. 3.
