The former president returned to the Republican fundraising circuit as a consequential election approached.
But the guest list omitted a candidate whose primary victories carry a personal history for those involved.
George W. Bush helped raise money for Senate Republicans at a September fundraiser that did not include Texas nominee Ken Paxton.
Senator John Cornyn hosted the event for Maintain the Majority, with Bush billed as a special guest. Paxton had defeated Cornyn in this year’s Republican Senate primary.
He also defeated Bush’s nephew, George P. Bush, in the 2022 Texas attorney general primary. Those contests provide context for the omission, although neither Bush nor Cornyn publicly explained it as personal.
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The fundraiser supported a political action committee associated with several Republican Senate candidates.
Its listed participants included Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, Ohio Senator Jon Husted, and Maine Senator Susan Collins.
Republican nominees Mike Rogers of Michigan, John Sununu of New Hampshire, and Ashley Hinson of Iowa also appeared.
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Minnesota Senate nominee Michele Tafoya was added to the event, according to the report cited by Fox News.
Paxton was absent from the committee’s listed participants and from the fundraiser.
Republican nominees Mike Collins of Georgia and Michael Whatley of North Carolina were also absent.
That broader list matters: Paxton was not the only Trump-aligned candidate outside this particular fundraising effort.
The event nevertheless highlighted a visible divide between established Republican figures and the party’s Texas nominee.
Paxton won the primary with President Donald Trump’s backing and is running against Democrat James Talarico.
Cornyn’s participation is notable because the senator lost to Paxton in the very contest that produced the nominee.
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Bush’s presence adds another layer because Paxton previously beat a member of the Bush family.
The facts establish an omission from one fundraising operation, not a declaration that Bush opposes Paxton’s election.
They also do not show that Cornyn or Bush urged donors to support Talarico. The distinction is important as both parties compete for a Senate seat Republicans have long expected to hold.
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Maintain the Majority directs its fundraising toward candidates included in its joint committee.
Money raised through that committee is separate from other Republican funds that could support Paxton.
Trump’s MAGA Inc. organization reported more than $415 million cash on hand around the time of the event. That figure described the organization’s available funds, not a promise that the full amount would go to Texas.
Paxton also has support from other Republicans despite his absence from Bush and Cornyn’s fundraiser.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters expressed confidence that Paxton could keep the seat in GOP hands.
Gruters pointed to Paxton’s previous statewide victories and his defeat of a longtime incumbent in the primary.
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The confidence comes as Texas has drawn closer attention in the national battle for Senate control.
Fox News rated its Senate race a toss-up in the rankings cited with the September report. The outlet also identified competitive contests in Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Maine, and Alaska.
Republicans held a 53-to-47 Senate majority when Fox published its account. That margin made each competitive seat important to the party’s ability to retain control after November 3.
A Republican Senate could continue confirming nominees and provide Trump legislative leverage if Democrats captured the House. For donors, the fundraiser offered a way to support selected candidates in those races.
For Paxton, the omission raised a separate question about support from Republicans he defeated on his way to the nomination.
The answer cannot be inferred solely from a guest list or a committee’s roster, Fox News reported. Bush and Cornyn may back other Republican efforts, but the reported event did not direct funds through Paxton’s campaign.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
