Neil Bush said he voted early for Democrat James Talarico in the Texas U.S. Senate race, citing concerns about Republican Ken Paxton as voters choose between the two nominees. Bush shared his account in a Facebook post.
Bush, the younger brother of former President George W. Bush, said he had been a Republican for most of his life. He attributed his vote to “deep concern” about Paxton’s record and “genuine admiration” for Talarico’s character and principles, adding that character mattered more to him than party affiliation.
CBS News also placed Bush’s vote in the context of his family’s Texas political history, pointing to George W. Bush’s 1994 win over Democratic Gov. Ann Richards as part of the Republican Party’s growing strength in the state.
Bush also criticized Paxton’s role in Texas’ 2020 election challenge, saying it was intended to help Donald Trump remain in power. Texas sought leave to file a case against Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. The U.S. Supreme Court denied the request on standing grounds on Dec. 11, 2020.
The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023. In September 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted him on the 16 impeachment articles it took up and dismissed four more that had been set aside.
The Texas Secretary of State’s certified ballot lists Talarico as the Democratic nominee and Paxton as the Republican nominee. Talarico, a former public school teacher, was first elected to the Texas House in 2018. In-person early voting runs Oct. 19-30, and the general election is Nov. 3.
