Neil Bush says he voted for Democrat James Talarico in Texas Senate race
The longtime Republican cited concerns about Ken Paxton’s record and praised Talarico’s character as early voting began in a closely contested race.
Neil Bush, a longtime Republican and son of former President George H.W. Bush, said on 20 October 2026 that he had voted early for Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton in Texas’s US Senate race. Bush said concerns about Paxton’s record and admiration for Talarico’s character drove his decision, a striking break with his party as early voting gets under way.
In a Facebook post reported by CBS News and The Guardian, Bush said he was particularly troubled by Paxton’s effort to challenge the 2020 presidential election results in other states to help Donald Trump remain in power. He wrote that he still believed in traditional Republican principles but that ‘character matters more than party affiliation.’
Bush called Talarico a principled leader willing to listen to people with whom he disagrees. He praised the Democrat’s respectful approach and search for common ground, and described Talarico’s faith as a source of humility and compassion. CBS reported Bush’s assessment that Talarico showed integrity, civility and a willingness to listen.
Why Bush’s vote stands out in Texas
The Bush family has played a prominent role in Texas Republican politics. CBS News traced the party’s rise in the state to George W. Bush’s 1994 defeat of Democratic Governor Ann Richards, followed by Republican control of statewide offices and both chambers of the legislature. Neil Bush’s nephew George P. Bush unsuccessfully challenged Paxton for the Republican attorney general nomination in 2022.
Paxton, the current Texas attorney general, was impeached by the Republican-controlled state House in 2023 on accusations including bribery and abuse of office, then acquitted by the state Senate. Bush cited Paxton’s conduct in office as a reason for his vote. Paxton later defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary, with Trump’s endorsement, CBS reported.
Early voting began on 19 October. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1988, but CBS News rated the Talarico–Paxton contest a toss-up in its Battleground Tracker. Bush’s announcement describes his own vote; the race remains undecided.
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Sources and context
- Bush’s brother crosses party lines to vote for James Talarico for SenateThe Guardian
- George W. Bush's brother Neil Bush says he voted for James Talarico in Texas Senate raceCBS News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.