Brother of George W Bush endorses Democratic Senate candidate in Texas
Neil Bush says that he voted for Democrat James Talarico due to reservations about Republican candidate Ken Paxton.
Key points
- Neil Bush, brother of former Republican President George W Bush, said he voted for Democrat James Talarico in Texas's Senate race.
- Bush cited concerns about Republican candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's judgment and conduct.
- A Marist poll released on October 14 found Talarico at 47 percent and Paxton at 45 percent.
Neil Bush, brother of former Republican President George W Bush, has said he voted for Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico in Texas. In a social media post on Tuesday, Bush said he backed Talarico because of concerns about the Republican candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Talarico and Paxton are in a tight race for Texas's open Senate seat. Democrats hope to take control of the 100-member Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, when 35 seats will be on the ballot. Bush's endorsement is the latest sign of division among Texas Republicans.
Reasons for the endorsement
Bush, whose brother and late father George HW Bush both served as president, cited Paxton's conduct as attorney general. He pointed to Paxton's efforts to support President Donald Trump's false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
Bush said he was deeply troubled by Paxton's decision to challenge the results of the 2020 election in other states to help Trump remain in power, calling it an affront to the peaceful transfer of power. He also noted that Paxton was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House and later acquitted by the Texas Senate.
I believe that effort was an affront to our democratic institutions and the peaceful transfer of power.
— Neil Bush
Race background and polling
Texas has long been considered a Republican stronghold, and Democrats have not won a Senate race there since 1988. Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary run-off on May 26, after securing Trump's endorsement on May 19.
Trump criticized Cornyn as not supportive of him when times were tough and praised Paxton as a MAGA Warrior. Some Republicans have expressed frustration over Trump's intervention, citing vulnerabilities from Paxton's state impeachment and other scandals. A Marist poll released on October 14 found Talarico winning 47 percent to Paxton's 45 percent.
