George Bush Is Back — His Latest Words on Trump Raise Eyebrows
Former President George W. Bush has made a rare return to partisan politics by participating in a Dallas fundraiser aimed at preserving the Republican Senate majority. However, the event drew significant attention for who was excluded: Trump-backed Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton. Here is a breakdown of the event and its political implications.
1. The "Maintain the Majority" Fundraiser
On September 21, 2026, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) hosted a high-profile fundraising dinner in Dallas for a new joint fundraising committee called "Maintain the Majority."
George W. Bush, who has largely avoided day-to-day politics since leaving the White House in 2009, appeared as a "special guest." The event also drew old-guard Republican establishment figures, including former Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and former White House counsel Harriet Miers. According to reports, the fundraiser generated over $1.1 million, which was directed to six specific Republican Senate candidates running in tight races:
Incumbents: Susan Collins (Maine), Jon Husted (Ohio), and Dan Sullivan (Alaska).
Challengers: Ashley Hinson (Iowa), Mike Rogers (Michigan), and John E. Sununu (New Hampshire).
2. The Exclusion of Ken Paxton
The most notable aspect of the fundraiser was the intentional omission of Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate nominee for Texas.
Paxton is currently in a highly competitive and expensive race against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico. The exclusion stems from a bitter primary battle earlier in 2026, where Paxton, backed heavily by Donald Trump and MAGA-aligned PACs, successfully ousted the incumbent, Senator John Cornyn. During that primary, George W. Bush actively supported Cornyn, contributing $5,000 to his campaign.
May you like
3. Triage and Strategic Spending
The decision to leave Paxton off the fundraising list highlights a broader strategic debate within the Republican party as the 2026 midterms approach.
While Trump-affiliated organizations are committing tens of millions of dollars to support Paxton in Texas, Senator Cornyn has publicly argued that the party must be careful with resource allocation. Cornyn warned that "pouring another $100 million in Texas jeopardizes other races," emphasizing that the ultimate goal must be maintaining the overall Senate majority. Consequently, the "Maintain the Majority" committee directed its funds away from the expensive Texas race (and other high-profile races like those in North Carolina and Georgia) to focus on states where leadership believes the money will have the greatest strategic impact.
