Bush Family Makes Moves to Reboot Political Dynasty

The Bush family is plotting a political revival. But in the era of Donald Trump, their gamble could test whether there’s still room in today’s Republican Party for Bush-style conservatism.

Jonathan Bush — cousin of former President George W. Bush and nephew of the late President George H.W. Bush — is laying the groundwork for a potential 2026 gubernatorial run in Maine, a state long known for its independent streak but where Democrats currently hold an edge.

The move comes three years after George P. Bush’s humiliating defeat in Texas, a race many saw as the final nail in the coffin for the once-mighty Bush dynasty. Now, Jonathan is trying to write a new chapter.

Jonathan Bush has quietly launched an exploratory committee and founded a nonprofit, Maine for Keeps, focused on housing and economic issues. Earlier this week, he hosted a private fundraiser in Kennebunkport, the Bush family’s iconic coastal stronghold, with his cousin George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in attendance.

“We need leadership that respects Maine’s independence while helping our economy grow,” Bush wrote on his nonprofit’s site. “My family has called Maine home for over a century. This is personal.”

But his potential run collides head-on with the political reality of 2025: Donald Trump owns the Republican Party.

A Gallup poll released in January found that 93% of Republicans view President Trump favorably, compared to just 63% for the Bush name. Among independents and moderates, however, Bush still polls better than Trump — a critical factor in a purple state like Maine.

The relationship between the Bush family and President Trump has been frosty for years. Trump repeatedly mocked Jeb Bush during the bruising 2016 primary, calling him “low energy,” and has never missed an opportunity to slam George W. Bush’s handling of 9/11 and the Iraq War.

Back in 2013, Trump tweeted:

“We need another Bush in office about as much as we need Obama for a third term.”

That tension still lingers. Neither George W. Bush nor Jeb Bush endorsed Trump in 2020 or 2024, and insiders say the former president remains privately skeptical about Trump’s “America First” policies.

Experts are split on whether Jonathan Bush’s campaign can succeed.

“There’s still a segment of Maine Republicans who remember the Bush years fondly,” said Ronald Schmidt, a political science professor at the University of Southern Maine. “But the GOP is deeply divided here. Roughly half are ‘Trump Republicans,’ and they’re skeptical of anyone tied to the old establishment.”

Dan Shea, a Colby College political scientist, agreed:

“Jonathan’s biggest challenge will be speaking to both audiences at once — the moderate Republicans who liked his family’s style and the rural, pro-Trump voters who see Bushes as part of the swamp.”

Complicating matters further, Maine is trending blue. Governor Janet Mills’ decision not to seek reelection leaves an open race, but Democrats have been gaining ground. Mills won reelection handily in 2022, and President Trump carried the state by a razor-thin margin in 2024 — far narrower than his national lead.

While dynasties have lost some of their shine, Jonathan Bush still enjoys the advantage of instant name recognition.

“Voters may be skeptical about dynasties,” said Costas Panagopoulos, a Northeastern University political science professor, “but in a crowded Republican field, being a Bush still carries weight.”

However, Bush’s decision to launch his campaign in Kennebunkport — a wealthy, coastal enclave associated with old-guard Republicans — may alienate the populist base. “That’s not where you win over Trump’s people,” Shea warned.

Jonathan Bush is expected to make a formal announcement in the coming months. If he runs, he’ll face a crowded field that already includes the children of Sen. Angus King and Rep. Chellie Pingree — a sign that Maine’s 2026 race is shaping up to be a family affair.

The Cook Political Report currently rates the race “Likely Democratic”, but strategists say a Bush candidacy could scramble the map.

For now, all eyes are on whether the Bush name can survive in a Republican Party reshaped by Trump.

As Schmidt put it bluntly:

“This isn’t the GOP of 2000. It’s Trump’s party now. If Jonathan Bush wants a shot, he’ll have to prove he can speak to both worlds — or risk becoming a political relic.”