The Bush household might revitalize their political dynasty as Jonathan Bush, cousin of former President George W. Bush, considers a run for governor in Maine.
Why It Issues
Bush-style conservatism has been on the outs within the fashionable GOP, as President Donald Trump‘s model of politics has dominated the celebration over the previous decade since his first presidential bid in 2016.
In 2022, George P. Bush’s defeat within the Texas lawyer normal GOP main was considered because the potential finish of the decades-long political dynasty. However Jonathan Bush has taken steps to launch a gubernatorial marketing campaign in Maine, a Democratic-leaning state with an impartial streak, forward of the 2026 midterm elections.
What To Know
Maine Governor Janet Mills’ retirement on the finish of her time period leaves open the Maine gubernatorial workplace, which has been held by each Democrats and Republicans through the years. Jonathan Bush is taking early steps to arrange for a possible gubernatorial run.
Former President Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush held a fundraiser for Jonathan Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine, this week, reported The Bangor Every day Information. He has additionally launched an exploratory committee for governor and, earlier this yr, started a nonprofit “Maine for Retains” that works on points like housing and the financial system.
His potential run may very well be an opportunity to rekindle the Bush dynasty.
However how profitable a comeback for the Bush household within the Trump period may very well be stays to be seen, as Jonathan Bush must take care of a brand new iteration of the GOP and a state the place Democrats sometimes have a bonus if he decides to run.
Is There Room for a Bush within the Trump GOP?
Ronald Schmidt, professor of political science on the College of Southern Maine, advised Newsweek that there are nonetheless Republicans within the state who could be open to supporting a Bush.
“There are nonetheless Republicans in Maine who’ve fond recollections of the Bush household, and a few who help an concept of average, or at the very least non-Trumpish, conservatism who might nicely be open to such a candidate, and there are Republicans who hope to comply with Trump’s political path. I do not suppose it has been established but which faction is stronger,” he stated.
Mainers “just like the picture of themselves as independents,” he stated.
Democrats outnumber Republicans within the state, however not by an amazing margin. What can be key within the gubernatorial race is candidates’ floor sport and mobilization, he stated.
“As for Jonathan Bush, his household’s help, in regard to fundraising, title recognition, and endorsement are nothing to low cost. And, after all, the Bush household has been skillful at shifting between many GOP factions, together with the right-wing,” he stated.
Dan Shea, a professor of political science at Colby School, advised Newsweek {that a} divide stays between Bush-style and Trump-style Republicans in Maine.
“Republicans in state are actually roughly divided between the extra Bush-like conventional Republican, the extra Yankee Republica, and the Trump-LePage Republican. My finest guess is about 50-50,” he stated, referring to the state’s former GOP Governor Paul LePage.
Whereas the Trump-like GOP faction might “not heat to a Bush tremendous quick,” there’s nonetheless a “very giant, pragmatic, centrist piece of the Maine citizens,” Shea stated.
Republicans sometimes must give attention to fiscal conservatism, however carve out extra average coverage on social points, to win in Maine, he stated.
The choice to carry a small fundraiser in Kennebunkport, a rich coastal city within the state’s southernmost area, might not play nicely with among the extra rural, Trump Republicans, he stated.
“That he would have a fundraiser with only a handful of individuals in Kennebunkport, that does not play significantly nicely to a lot of rural Maine,” he stated. “Kennebunkport could be very distinct. It’s totally completely different.”
One other problem for Bush may very well be the overall election, when he’ll face a Democratic candidate. Though the state has not elected consecutive governors from the identical celebration for many years, the state has gotten bluer lately, he stated. Mills handily gained reelection in 2022, and whereas the state shifted a bit to Trump final November, it did so by a smaller margin than most different states, he stated.
Costas Panagopoulos, a Northeastern College political science professor, advised Newsweek that many Individuals are “skeptical” about political dynasties, however having that title recognition may very well be a bonus over different Republican candidates, significantly in a extra crowded discipline.
“The Bush household title nonetheless carries plenty of weight in locations like Maine,” he stated.
Whereas the GOP has moved away from the Bush household legacy, there are nonetheless some Republican voters who’re “uncomfortable with the course of the Trump Republican Party” and look again extra nostalgically on the Bush years, he stated.
A candidate like Jonathan Bush must stability successful over these impartial, average voters whereas additionally interesting to GOP main voters who’re nearer to Trump’s fashion of politics, Panagopoulos stated.
Nevertheless, Maine may very well be “stable floor” for a Bush revival due to historic help for extra average candidates, he stated.
Republican Senator Susan Collins, considered as essentially the most average within the Senate, as an illustration, has gained reelection lately regardless of the state’s blue tint in different races.
Brandon Rottinghaus,a political science professor on the College of Houston, advised Newsweek that Bush-style politics are “just like the anti-MAGA,” and that the “tone and concern profile of most fashionable Republicans are completely different from the Bush household politics.”
“Republican main audiences are actually conditioned to a extra aggressive breed of conservatism, one district from the Bush household political legacy,” he stated.
Trump and the Bushes Have Difficult Relationship
The connection between former President Bush and Trump has been strained. The previous president has not endorsed or vocally supported Trump, and he criticized the administration’s gutting of USAID earlier this year.
Trump has been extra vocal in his assaults towards Bush on subjects together with his handling of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks and his overseas coverage report throughout his time within the Oval Workplace. That divide has been a defining dynamic of Republican politics, as Bush and different extra conventional conservatives have largely misplaced their grip on the GOP to Trump.
His critiques of the Bushes return greater than a decade, with him writing that the U.S. wants “one other Bush in workplace about as a lot as we want Obama to have a third time period” in a January 2013 publish to X.
Trump and Jeb Bush have been additionally chief rivals in the course of the 2016 GOP presidential main, when the 2 ceaselessly traded barbs.
A Gallup poll released earlier this year discovered that 93 % of Republicans considered Trump favorably, whereas 63 % considered Bush favorably. Amongst all Individuals, nevertheless, Bush was considered extra favorably. Fifty-two % of Individuals considered him favorably, in comparison with 48 % who considered Trump favorably.
The ballot surveyed 1,001 American adults from January 21 to January 27, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 proportion factors.
If Jonathan Bush runs, he could be becoming a member of a number of different family of well-known politicians within the state. Each the son of Senator Angus King, an impartial who caucuses with Democrats, and the daughter of Consultant Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, are already within the race for governor.
Jonathan Bush’s nonprofit “Maine for Retains” highlights his help to assist the state “construct a sustainable, impartial financial system.” The web site additionally features a “Wall of Disgrace” that calls consideration to what he views as “straight-out errors with the implementation of presidency packages to upside-down guidelines and rules that make it more durable for Maine individuals to get forward.”
What Folks Are Saying
Northeastern College political science professor Costas Panagopoulos advised Newsweek: “Issues for a Bush may need been very completely different earlier than the Trump period, when the legacy of his cousin was extra outstanding in peoples’ minds. Peoples’ recollections of the Bush presidency have now pale considerably, and any criticism of George W. Bush and even HW Bush earlier than which may pale compared to how individuals really feel about Donald Trump and what’s taking place with Republican politics.”
A spokesperson for Jonathan Bush advised The Bangor Every day Information: “He is been lucky to obtain the help and counsel of Mainers from everywhere in the state and all walks of life, and particularly proud to have his household standing strongly by his facet.”
Jonathan Bush wrote on the web site for Maine for Retains: “My household has been in Maine for the reason that Nineties. My spouse Fay’s household has been right here for the reason that 1700s. Like so many others, we have chosen to make Maine our house and lift our kids right here as a result of, fairly merely, there is no such thing as a higher place to do this. The pure magnificence, the city character, and the good individuals simply cannot be beat.
“However what about our enterprise setting? Certain it is stunningly stunning and that helps entice individuals. We have additionally acquired a inhabitants of resilient, impartial, hard-working residents who’ve discovered to adapt to regardless of the subsequent problem could also be.”
What Occurs Subsequent
Jonathan Bush might announce his candidacy within the coming months. The Democratic main, in the meantime, stays crowded with a number of outstanding candidates within the race. The Cook dinner Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball each classify the race as being Probably Democratic.
