Blow for Trump in Texas: The Bush family backs a Democratic candidate

Gabriel Dumitrache

22 October 2026, 11:35

International

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Barbara and Neil Bush, members of one of the best-known Republican families in the US, have expressed their support for Democrat James Talarico in the race for the US Senate in Texas. The decision comes ahead of the midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, and highlights the divide between traditional Republicans and President Donald Trump’s camp.

Barbara Bush, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, made a donation to Talarico’s campaign, according to campaign finance documents. Her uncle, Neil Bush, publicly stated that he had already voted for the Democratic candidate during early voting.

Neil Bush explained that his decision was motivated by concerns about Republican Ken Paxton’s record and by his appreciation for Talarico’s character and principles. Paxton, a former attorney general of Texas, is supported by the Republican base close to Donald Trump and defeated a rival backed by the Bush family in the primary election.

Polls place Paxton and Talarico neck and neck in a Republican-dominated state. A Democrat has not won a Senate seat in Texas since 1988. The Bush family’s support could attract moderate Republican voters or those dissatisfied with Trump and Paxton.

The relationship between the Bush family and Donald Trump has been tense for several years. Trump defeated Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican race, and family members subsequently criticized the party’s direction and the president’s actions. Texas voters will decide, in the same election, which party will control Congress.

Context: U.S. midterm elections, with early voting in Texas and control of Congress at stake

Before the November 3 elections, early voting for the midterm election began Monday in Texas. Democrats hoped for unusual results in a state considered a Republican stronghold, with lines forming early at a polling station in Houston, while voters had until November 3 to choose between Republican and Democratic candidates.

In the same electoral context, Republicans expressed concerns that they could lose their majority in the House of Representatives, while President Donald Trump intensified his campaign. In rallies and campaign materials, Trump linked the mobilization of supporters to cost-of-living difficulties and his lower popularity, with projections showing significant chances for Democrats to take control of the House and (possibly) the Senate.