Bush dynasty delivers another blow to GOP in Texas Senate battle as family member breaks ranks

Neil Bush, a son of the late President George H.W. Bush, has endorsed Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton, a break from his family's long Republican loyalties. Bush announced his choice on Facebook on Tuesday after voting early, noting he had never before shared a political message on the platform because he did not want to offend friends who disagree with him, according to Fox News.

Bush said two things drove his decision: serious worry about Paxton's record and sincere respect for the character and principles he sees in Talarico. He also voiced alarm about Donald Trump and the people who have backed him, arguing they have done major harm to the Republican Party. In his view, a political culture that prizes personal allegiance above principle, and lets the powerful imagine they answer to no one, is dangerous. Still, he stressed that his vote reflected more than opposition to Paxton.

Neil Bush is the brother of former President George W. Bush. Fox News notes that the former president remains cordial with Democratic predecessors but has had a frosty relationship with Trump since the 2016 GOP primary, when Trump repeatedly went after Jeb Bush and ridiculed their mother, Barbara Bush.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →