A public endorsement of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico by former US President George W. Bush has not been established, despite social media claims that the former Republican president is backing him against Republican Ken Paxton in Texas.
The confusion follows support for Talarico from Bush’s younger brother, Neil Bush, who publicly said he voted for the Democrat, citing concerns about Paxton’s record and admiration for Talarico’s character.
According to a fact-check report by Newsweek’s Giulia Carbonaro, no public statement was found showing that George W. Bush or his wife, Laura Bush, had endorsed Talarico.
Several posts on X claimed the former president and his wife were supporting the Democratic candidate. One widely shared post attracted nearly 750,000 views, spreading the claim that the Bushes had turned against Paxton, President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate.
However, the report found that the confirmed political support came from Neil Bush, who broke with his usual practice of avoiding public political statements to explain his vote for Talarico.
Neil said he was concerned about Paxton’s record and praised Talarico’s integrity, humility and willingness to listen to people with opposing views. He also criticised the political culture surrounding Trump, arguing that loyalty to an individual should not take priority over political principles and accountability.
Another member of the Bush family, Barbara Bush, daughter of the former president, reportedly donated $2,500 to Lone Star Rising PAC, a political action committee supporting Talarico. The donation was reported by the San Antonio Express-News, citing campaign finance records.
The distinction matters because Texas is facing one of its most closely watched Senate contests. Talarico is challenging Paxton in a state where no Democrat has won a Senate seat since 1988.
Recent polling cited by Newsweek placed Talarico narrowly ahead of Paxton, making the race a potential opportunity for Democrats seeking to gain control of the Senate.
Republicans currently hold a 53–47 majority. Democrats need a net gain of four seats in the coming elections to take control of the chamber.
George W. Bush, who has largely withdrawn from active presidential politics, previously announced that he would not endorse either candidate in the 2024 presidential election. He has also appeared at fundraising events for Republican Senate candidates this year, including an event supporting Texas Senator John Cornyn before Paxton defeated Cornyn in the Republican primary.
The available evidence therefore points to support for Talarico from Neil Bush and a donation from Barbara Bush, but not a confirmed endorsement by George W. Bush or Laura Bush.
