Bush family royalty backs Democrat in battle to flip Texas blue

Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico got a big-name boost from a surprising corner of the Republican Party as former first daughter Barbara Bush recently donated to the main PAC supporting his campaign.

Former President George W. Bush has had a strained relationship with President Donald Trump dating back to the 2016 campaign, when Trump mocked both his mother and brother. But the donation by Bush’s daughter, the twin sister of NBC host Jenna Bush Hager, comes at a crucial time for Republicans’ hopes of holding the U.S. Senate.

Fox News Digital confirmed through FEC filings that Barbara Bush — who shares the name of the late first lady, her grandmother — contributed $2,500 to Lone Star Rising PAC this quarter. The PAC accounts for almost all the outside spending supporting Talarico, according to Houston Public Media.

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While the amount is smaller than contributions from some other big-name donors, including The Eagles’ Don Henley, who gave $150,000 to the PAC, analysts said it is notable that Bush did not make an effort to conceal her politically famous identity.

“She didn’t give it to a 501(c)(4), in which her contribution would’ve been completely anonymous. She gave it to a PAC that reports all the money in and out,” Texas campaign finance expert Andrew Cates told Houston Public Media.

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Barbara Bush, 44, is currently an executive at the National Basketball Association, where she is vice president of social impact and inclusion. Her FEC filing reflected an address in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

According to the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Bush works with the league internationally to use the “convening power of basketball” to support humanitarian efforts involving social justice, “health equity” and sustainability.

She also co-founded the Global Health Corps geared toward empowering youth to solve global health issues. She and Hager also co-authored several children’s books.

The George W. Bush Presidential Center did not respond to a request for comment directed to both former President Bush and Barbara Bush.

Fox News Digital also reached out to the Washington Speakers Bureau, which represents Barbara Bush.

Talarico has lambasted big money in politics and criticized Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and opponent Ken Paxton for “want[ing] corporations and billionaires to decide our elections, not Texans.”

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However, Talarico has also said he will not “unilaterally disarm” on campaign spending while Republicans employ political action committees, according to the Texas Tribune.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Talarico’s campaign for comment on Barbara Bush’s donation.

Fox News’ Will Jacobs contributed to this report.