Neil Bush Says He Voted for Democrat James Talarico Over Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate Race
The brother of George W. Bush wrote on Facebook that he voted early for Talarico, citing concern about Paxton's record and about Trump's effect on the party. A Bush niece gave $2,500 to a pro-Talarico super PAC last month.
Another member of the Bush family has publicly backed the Democrat in Texas's closely watched Senate race, Fox News reports.
What he wrote. Neil Bush, son of George H.W. Bush and brother of George W. Bush, posted on Facebook on Tuesday that he had voted early for James Talarico. "I have never posted a political message on Facebook, not wanting to offend friends whose views may be very different than mine," he wrote. "My vote was motivated by two things: deep concern about Ken Paxton's record and genuine admiration for the character and principles I see in James Talarico." Fox does not say what record he means.
His case against Trump. Bush also wrote that "Donald Trump and those who have enabled him have done enormous damage to the Republican Party," and that he worries about a political culture "where loyalty to an individual takes precedence over loyalty to principle." He added that his vote was "about much more than opposition to Ken Paxton."
The second Bush. Fox says federal campaign records show Barbara Bush, George W. Bush's daughter, gave $2,500 on Sept. 23 to Lone Star Rising PAC, one of the big outside groups backing Talarico and opposing Paxton.
The history. Fox notes that Trump's relationship with the Bush family has been strained since the 2016 primary, when he attacked Jeb Bush and mocked Barbara Bush, the former first lady. George W. Bush has kept friendly ties with Democratic former presidents, and in June attended the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Fox says it asked the White House, Neil Bush's representatives and the Paxton campaign for comment. No reply is reported.
The money on the other side. Fox also mentions that the Trump-linked group MAGA Inc. has put $10 million into Paxton's race.
Note for readers: two Bush family votes do not tell us how Texas will go, and Fox does not report any move by George W. Bush himself. The headline's "blow to GOP" is Fox's framing of the family split. Neil Bush's quotes come from a Facebook post we did not view directly.