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.TALARICO SAYS THE DIVIDE IS 'TOP VS.BOTTOM' — THEN HEADS TO ONE OF AMERICA'S RICHEST DONOR ENCLAVESPresident George W., first lady Laura, first daughter Barbara and first daughter Jenna Bush are seen at the 2005 inauguration in Washington.
(Mark Wilson/Getty Images)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.GEORGE W BUSH RAISES MONEY FOR REPUBLICANS, BUT NOT KEY SENATE CANDIDATEBarbara Bush attends Sotheby's Creators & Collectors Dinner at Sotheby's at the Breuer in New York, N.Y., on Dec.
9, 2025.(Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)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 ...