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

Another member of the Bush family dynasty, Neil Bush, is throwing his weight behind Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico, saying he voted against a political style he believes has “damaged our country.”

“I have never posted a political message on Facebook, not wanting to offend friends whose views may be very different than mine. I’m breaking that tradition because I voted early today, and I voted for James Talarico for the United States Senate,” Neil Bush wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

“My vote was motivated by two things: deep concern about Ken Paxton’s record and genuine admiration for the character and principles I see in James Talarico.”

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Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush , broke with his family’s longstanding Republican political tradition in backing the Democrat.

Former President George W. Bush has maintained friendly relationships with Democratic former presidents, but his relationship with President Donald Trump has been strained since the 2016 Republican presidential primary, when Trump repeatedly attacked his brother Jeb Bush and mocked their mother, former first lady Barbara Bush.

“I believe Donald Trump and those who have enabled him have done enormous damage to the Republican Party. I worry about a political culture in which loyalty to an individual takes precedence over loyalty to principle, and where those who hold power begin to believe they are no longer accountable,” he added. “But my vote today was about much more than opposition to Ken Paxton.”

Neil is the second member of the Bush family to recently throw his support behind Talarico. Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, contributed $2,500 on Sept. 23 to Lone Star Rising PAC, a super PAC supporting the Democrat, according to federal campaign finance records reviewed by Fox News Digital.

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Lone Star Rising PAC is one of the major outside groups spending to support Talarico and oppose Paxton in the closely contested Texas Senate race, according to federal campaign finance records.

The younger Bush’s support for a Democrat comes as his brother, former President George W. Bush, has increasingly embraced bipartisan relationships in his post-presidency, most recently attending the opening of former President Barack Obama’s presidential center in Chicago in June.

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Bush and Michelle Obama have repeatedly spoken warmly about their friendship despite their political differences.

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At the Obama Center opening, Bush even gave Michelle Obama Altoids, recreating their famous mint/cough-drop exchange from John McCain’s 2018 funeral.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House, representatives for Neil Bush and the Paxton campaign for comment.