George Bush Family Stuns - What They Just Did To Trump Will Infuriate You
A $2,500 donation from Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, has drawn attention in Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Federal Election Commission records show Bush contributed to Lone Star Rising PAC on September 23, according to Texas Public Radio and Fox News. The outside group supports Democratic nominee James Talarico, who faces Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the November 3 election.
The donation was made by Barbara Bush, not her father, and does not indicate that the former president has endorsed Talarico. Bush is the twin sister of television host Jenna Bush Hager and the granddaughter of former First Lady Barbara Bush. Her political interests have at times differed from those of prominent Republican officeholders, and the contribution has renewed discussion about divisions within the wider Bush political family.
Lone Star Rising PAC accounts for nearly all outside spending supporting Talarico. Independent expenditure committees may accept large donations, but they cannot coordinate their spending with a candidate’s campaign. The donation became public through federal campaign finance disclosures.
Campaign finance expert Andrew Cates noted that donors can give to certain nonprofit organizations without their contributions appearing on public reports.
The contribution is the latest Bush family development to draw attention during the Senate campaign. Former President George W. Bush recently returned to Republican fundraising as the contest approached, but one prominent Texas candidate was missing from the event’s guest list.
Bush appeared as a special guest at a September fundraiser for Maintain the Majority, a PAC supporting several Republican Senate candidates. Sen. John Cornyn hosted the event. Paxton was not listed as a participant, having defeated Cornyn in this year’s Republican primary.
Paxton also defeated George W. Bush’s nephew, George P. Bush, in the 2022 Texas attorney general primary. Those contests provide context for Paxton’s absence, though neither George W. Bush nor Cornyn publicly said the omission was personal.
The fundraiser’s listed participants included Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Jon Husted of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine. Republican nominees Mike Rogers of Michigan, John Sununu of New Hampshire and Ashley Hinson of Iowa also appeared. Minnesota Senate nominee Michele Tafoya was later added, Fox News reported.
Paxton was not the only Trump-backed nominee absent. Republican nominees Mike Collins of Georgia and Michael Whatley of North Carolina were also missing from the PAC’s list and the fundraiser.
The event nonetheless highlighted a divide between some established Republican figures and the Texas nominee. Paxton won his primary with President Donald Trump’s backing and is now running against Talarico, whose campaign has the support of Lone Star Rising PAC.