George W. Bush Appears at Texas GOP Fundraiser, Skips Trump-Backed Ken Paxton

At a high-profile fundraiser in Dallas, former President George W. Bush was a special guest for a campaign hosted by Sen. John Cornyn, aimed at bolstering Republican Senate incumbents in states such as Iowa, Alaska, Michigan, Minnesota and Maine. The gathering, run by the Maintain the Majority committee, deliberately avoided endorsing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is Donald Trump’s chosen candidate for the Senate and faces ongoing corruption allegations and a recent impeachment by the Texas House.

Recent polls indicate Democrat James Talarico ahead of Paxton, suggesting the seat could flip for the first time in decades. Establishment leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune have backed Cornyn over Paxton, citing electability concerns. The episode follows previous clashes, including Paxton’s 2022 primary win over George P. Bush and Karl Rove’s decision to vote for a Democrat in a Texas Railroad Commission race, underscoring a growing rift between traditional Republicans and the MAGA wing.