As Texas Republicans grow more nervous about their chances of keeping a U.S. Senate seat in November, they are now facing another political burden: members of the Bush family.

Former President George W. Bush’s daughter Barbara and his brother Neil have broken with their family’s political party in the high-stakes race to support Democratic nominee James Talarico, adding to Republican anxiety about the contest.

The Federal Election Commission’s most recent report on PAC donations lists Barbara Bush as donating $2,500 last month to Lone Star Rising, a political action committee in support of Talarico, who is facing Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the midterm elections. Her monetary support emphasizes larger fractures within the Republican Party, which had hoped for an overwhelming victory in the state. (Barbara Bush, who lives in Brooklyn, is registered to vote in New York.)

On Tuesday, in another Bush defection, the former president’s brother said on Facebook that he had cast his vote for Talarico in early voting.

“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 in a lengthy post. “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.”

Paxton was endorsed by President Donald Trump during the Texas GOP primary over incumbent Sen. John Corbyn. But he is facing a candidate who has intertwined his Christian faith with his campaign and whose focus on kitchen-table issues has resonated with voters facing econmic headwinds. The Democrat has a slight lead in polling, 48.8% to 46%.

Neil Bush, who calls himself a longtime Republican, said he has been “deeply troubled” by Paxton’s history as Texas attorney general. He cited Paxton’s decision to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, for which he was investigated by the state, and his impeachment by his own party over misconduct allegations in 2023. Paxton was also indicted in 2015 on charges of securities fraud. His legal team reached a deal for him to take ethics classes, pay almost $270,000 in restitution and complete community service.

In his statement, Neil Bush also took aim at Trump for doing “enormous damage to the Republican Party.”

He said he was “enormously impressed” by Talarico.

“He speaks with respect, seeks common ground, and seems genuinely interested in bringing people together rather than driving them apart,” he said. “His faith appears to be a deeply rooted source of humility, compassion, and conviction rather than a political weapon.”

He added, “I still believe deeply in many traditional Republican principles. But character matters more than party affiliation. Our democracy depends on leaders who respect our institutions, tell the truth, accept accountability, and seek to unite rather than divide.”

Paxton has been a divisive figure within his party. His impeachment attorney, Dan Cogdell, and his former law enforcement director, David Maxwell, have also said they will vote for Talarico.

The post George W. Bush’s daughter, brother throw weight behind James Talarico appeared first on MS NOW.

A Texas-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organization says someone is impersonating the group through texts and mailers distributed across the state in what it describes as a political attack, just as early voting begins in Texas.

Texans across the state, including in the Panhandle and the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio metro areas, reported receiving text messages and physical brochures purporting to offer support and resources to transgender students and pointing them to information on how to seek legal emancipation from parents.

The brochure prominently identifies the Transgender Education Network of Texas, or TENT, as “an organization trusted by students,” and includes links to the trans advocacy group.

Parents and conservative activists posted images of the texts and brochures online, expressing outrage at what they characterized as divisive messaging.

TENT, however, says it did not send the materials. In a statement, the group described the messages and materials as an impersonation attempt.

I got the rage bait mail! pic.twitter.com/htqc9wUmRa

— Kaylee Ashlynn (@kaylee_ashlynn) October 19, 2026

“TENT did not author, authorize, approve, or distribute these materials. Any and all materials are not affiliated with our organization and are impersonations,” the advocacy group said in a statement to MS NOW on Tuesday, adding that “these instances will not shake our commitment to the dignity and humanity of trans youth, trans Texans, their families, and their loved ones. Trans Texans belong here in Texas, this is our home and we’re not going anywhere.”

The first text message was sent on Oct. 11 and included a link to a “Back to School” guide with a general resource page. TENT said the information at that link was “falsely promoted as guidance to find gender affirming care,” adding that the information had never existed on its own website. On Oct. 17, TENT became aware that physical brochures with its branding had been sent to households across the state after people began sharing images of them on social media.

TENT says it does not know who is behind the alleged impersonation, but the return label on the brochures features the name of a different group, called the Texas Transgender Student Union, a Wyoming-based entity. Data reported to Wyoming’s state secretary website shows that a business entity named “Texas Transgender Student Union LLC” was established in September.

The address associated with the Texas Transgender Student Union is linked to Northwest Registered Agent, a privately held company that helps form and and register businesses and that receives official correspondence on their behalf.

A spokesperson for Northwest Registered Agent would not confirm whether the Texas Transgender Student Union is its client, but said in an email that it had “no way of knowing” its clients’ intent when they form a new company using its services.

“One of our main jobs is receiving state and legal notices for our clients and forwarding them promptly,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company’s service is limited to allowing agencies to contact its clients’ businesses, even if they do not have a physical office location. “That’s where our involvement ends, though.”

“Northwest Registered Agent has no knowledge of, or involvement in, any of our clients’ business operations,” the spokesperson said.

Legal representatives for TENT have identified a company they believe owns the phone numbers from which the impersonating mass text messages were sent — Peerless Network Inc., operating as a part of Infobip Inc. — and have sent a cease-and-desist letter, obtained by MS NOW. The letter demands the organizations identify who is responsible for the messages, suspend the numbers associated with the messages and refuse to transmit any further messages that refer to TENT or its materials.

“Because the Messages reference nothing but TENT’s domain, a reasonable recipient will conclude that TENT sent them, and that TENT is texting strangers about sensitive subjects without their consent. That impression is false, and it is already causing irreparable damage to our client’s reputation,” the letter reads.

Representatives for Peerless Network and Infobip did not respond to MS NOW’s request for comment. TENT did not note in its letter how it identified these companies as potential impersonators.

As a result of the mass text messages and brochures, TENT said, its staff’s addresses and information had been circulated to people across the state.

“Our address was doxxed, and photos of our staff were included in the malicious mailing materials. Online, a graphic is being circulated with images of two of our senior staff along with our board chair,” the group said.

TENT said the mailers sent to Texas households also included dates for the group’s upcoming “Trans Texas Takeover” tour, which the organization has since suspended “due to increased safety threats and risks.”

Texas state Rep. Jeff Leach has also sent a formal request to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is the Republican Senate nominee as well, asking his office to investigate the alleged impersonation. Paxton did not immediately respond to MS NOW’s request for comment on the request.

The texts and mailers surfaced just as early voting kicked off in the state. Republican candidates, including Paxton, have made transgender issues a central line of attack against Democrats. Republican-aligned TV ads have targeted Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico over his position on gender-affirming care for minors.

A University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs poll released Monday found Talarico leading over Paxton by 2 points. Early voting in Texas began Oct. 19.

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