Neil Bush, younger brother of former Republican President George W. Bush, has announced his support for Democratic candidate James Talarico in Texas's pivotal U.S. Senate race. In a social media post on Tuesday, Bush said he had voted for Talarico because of concerns about the Republican nominee, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Talarico and Paxton are locked in a tight contest for Texas's open Senate seat. Democrats are aiming to win control of the 100-seat Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, when 35 seats will be up for grabs. Bush's endorsement of Talarico is the latest sign of fractures within the Texas Republican Party.
Bush comes from a prominent Republican family: not only did his brother serve as president, but his father, the late President George H.W. Bush, also held the office.
"My concerns about his judgment and conduct are not mine alone," Bush wrote, referring to Paxton. "He was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House, though he was later acquitted by the Texas Senate."
In explaining his decision, Bush pointed to Paxton's divisive history, including efforts to back President Donald Trump's false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
"I was deeply troubled by Paxton's conduct as Texas attorney general, especially his decision to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election in other states in an effort to keep Donald Trump in power," Bush said. "I believe that effort was an affront to our democratic institutions and to the peaceful transfer of power."
His brother, former President George W. Bush, has largely withdrawn from political life and has declined to make endorsements in recent elections. Before serving as president from 2001 to 2009, George W. Bush was governor of Texas. However, his daughter, Barbara Bush, has also expressed support for Talarico and donated to his campaign.
Texas has long been considered a Republican stronghold, and Democrats have not won a Senate race in the state since 1988. Nevertheless, polls show Talarico in a close race with Paxton, who defeated incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in the Republican runoff on May 26.
Paxton won Trump's endorsement on May 19, a few days before the runoff. In a statement, Trump criticized Cornyn for "not being there for me when it mattered," while praising Paxton as a "MAGA warrior."
Some Republicans have voiced frustration over Trump's intervention on Paxton's behalf, given the vulnerabilities created by the state impeachment and other scandals. A Marist poll released on October 14 showed Talarico at 47 percent to Paxton's 45 percent.
