Politics

Neil Bush Backs Democrat Talarico Over Paxton in Texas

Is this a stand for character over loyalty or just sour grapes from a defeated dynasty?

5 hours ago·Updated 59 minutes ago

Neil Bush Backs Democrat Talarico Over Paxton in Texas

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Above: Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico at a rally at the Red Tail Pavilion on Oct. 18. Image credit: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

The Facts

Neil Bush, a son of former President George H.W. Bush, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday that he had voted early for Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race, citing concern about Paxton's record.
The Guardian
One America
Bush, 71, who chairs his father's Points of Light nonprofit, wrote that he has been a Republican for most of his life but that "character matters more than party affiliation." He also said he still believes in many traditional Republican principles.
Newsweek
NewsBreak
Bush stated he's deeply troubled by Paxton's efforts as AG to challenge the 2020 election results in other states to keep Donald Trump in power, calling it "an affront to our democratic institutions and the peaceful transfer of power."
HuffPost
One America
CBS News
Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn in this year's Republican primary after winning Trump's endorsement, and in 2022 he beat George P. Bush, a nephew of Neil Bush, in the GOP primary for AG. Early voting in Texas began on Monday.
CBS News
Daily Mail
Barbara Bush, an NBA executive and daughter of former President George W. Bush, donated $2,500 on Sept. 23 to Lone Star Rising PAC, which accounts for nearly all of the outside spending supporting Talarico, FEC filings show.
Raw Story
FOX News
Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, has faced conservative criticism over remarks calling God "non-binary," which, he told CBS News in May, was "intentionally provocative." Texas counties have reported record first-day early voting turnout in the race.
One America
CNN
Twitchy

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The Spin

Democratic narrative

Character outranks party loyalty, and trying to toss out another state's election results should be disqualifying for anyone sworn to uphold the law. A lifetime Republican crossing over says plenty about how far the party has drifted when fealty to one man beats principle. Texas deserves a senator who listens, and treats public office with the respect it is owed.

Occupy Democrats on X

George Conway on X

Republican narrative

No amount of family pedigree turns this rogue choice into legitimate conservatism. Texas voters have already rejected dynasty politics at the ballot box, and lectures about character from a losing branch of the party land flat. Lower taxes, a secure border and limited government are what's actually on the line.

Jay Gatling on X