Barbara Bush donates $2,500 to PAC backing Democrat James Talarico in Texas Senate race
Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, donated $2,500 to Lone Star Rising PAC on September 23, 2026, the primary outside group supporting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico in Texas.
The contribution, filed with the Federal Election Commission and reported on October 17, highlights a rare public endorsement of a left‑leaning candidate by a member of the Bush political dynasty. Lone Star Rising PAC is the main vehicle backing Talarico against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Political attorney Andrew Cates noted that Bush chose a PAC that reports donor information rather than an anonymous 501(c)(4) organization, meaning the donation is fully visible to the public. He said, “She didn’t give it to a 501(c)(4), in which her contribution would have been completely anonymous. She gave it to a PAC that reports all the money in and out.”
Reid Hoffman, the co‑founder of LinkedIn, has poured more than $10 million into Lone Star Rising PAC, providing the financial engine that fuels Talarico’s campaign. The super PAC has already spent millions on advertising and voter outreach aimed at narrowing Paxton’s lead in recent polls.
Barbara Bush’s political activities have increasingly leaned toward progressive causes. In October 2024, she campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania, and she has publicly supported abortion rights, a stance that contrasts with her family’s traditional conservative platform.
Texas voters will decide the Senate seat in the November midterms, with Paxton’s campaign warning that the election will determine whether the state remains a “conservative stronghold” or shifts toward the “radical left.” The new donation adds to the mounting financial pressure on both sides as the race tightens.
The FEC filing confirms the amount and date of the contribution, and campaign analysts expect the $2,500 donation, while modest, will be highlighted by both camps as a symbol of cross‑party influence heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
