Neil Bush says he voted for James Talarico in Texas

Bush explains his vote

Neil Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush, said Tuesday that he voted for Democrat James Talarico in the Texas Senate race. Early voting began Monday.

Bush, who is also a son of former President George H.W. Bush, said he has been a Republican for most of his life and continues to believe in traditional Republican principles. He wrote that character matters more than party affiliation and criticized President Donald Trump and people who have supported him.

Talarico and Paxton

Talarico is the Democratic candidate in the Senate contest. Bush praised Talarico’s character and principles, describing his vote as more than an expression of opposition to Paxton. CBS News’ Battleground Tracker rates the contest as a toss-up and reported that Talarico had a narrow lead in its recent poll.

Paxton, the Republican candidate and Texas attorney general, defeated incumbent Sen. Trump has continued to support Paxton during the general election.

Bush specifically criticized Paxton’s attempt to challenge the 2020 presidential election results in other states. Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015; the case was later resolved through a diversion agreement. The Republican-controlled Texas House impeached him in 2023 on separate accusations of bribery and abuse of office, and the state Senate acquitted him.

The race

Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988. The Bush family has long been associated with the Republican Party’s rise in the state, giving Neil Bush’s publicly stated vote added significance during early voting.