Another Bush Family Member Backs Democrat in Texas Senate Race: Neil Bush Votes for Talarico

Another member of the Bush family dynasty has lined up behind Democratic candidate James Talarico in the Texas Senate race. Neil Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, has said he voted early for Talarico.

Neil Bush wrote on Facebook that he had never posted a political message on Facebook before, not wanting to offend friends whose views may be very different from his own. But he is breaking that tradition, he said, because he voted early and voted for James Talarico for the United States Senate.

Bush said his vote was motivated by two things: deep concern about Republican candidate Ken Paxton's record and genuine admiration for the character and principles he sees in Talarico.

He also wrote that he believes Donald Trump and those who have enabled him have done enormous damage to the Republican Party. He expressed 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.

But Neil Bush stressed that his vote was about more than opposition to Paxton. He wrote that his vote was about much more than opposition to Ken Paxton.

Texas voters are split in the Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, and polls show a dead heat. There has been discussion about whether Talarico is too liberal and about his past controversial comments.

Neil Bush broke with his family's longstanding Republican political tradition in backing the Democrat. Former President George W. Bush has maintained friendly relationships with Democratic former presidents, but his relationship with President Donald Trump has been strained since the 2016 Republican primary, when Trump repeatedly attacked his brother Jeb Bush and mocked their mother, former first lady Barbara Bush.

Neil is the second member of the Bush family to recently throw his support behind Talarico. Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, contributed $2,500 on September 23 to Lone Star Rising PAC, a super PAC supporting the Democrat, according to federal campaign finance records.

Lone Star Rising PAC is one of the major outside groups spending to support Talarico and oppose Paxton in the closely contested Texas Senate race.

Neil Bush's endorsement comes as his brother, former President George W. Bush, has increasingly embraced bipartisan relationships in his post-presidency, most recently attending the opening of former President Barack Obama's presidential center in Chicago.

The Texas Senate contest is now at the centre of national attention. One Bush family member after another lining up for the Democratic candidate has made the race even more talked about, and all eyes will now be on the result of the vote.