From The Texas Tribune:
The grandson of the late President George H.W. Bush, nonprofit executive Pierce Bush, announced Monday that he is running for Texas’ 22nd Congressional District.
Bush enters a crowded GOP primary to replace U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, whose seat was a national Democratic target even before Olson announced his retirement earlier this year. Bush made his bid official in a video playing up his experience as the Houston-based CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star.
“We face a very challenging time in our nation and, on the brink of losing a generation to an idea that socialism and free stuff, are the answers for their future,” Bush says. “But we all know that socialism has failed everywhere and everyone. It’s time for new leaders to stand for conservatism that empowers all Americans, placing individuals above government and ensuring that we all have the freedom to achieve success in life.”
The Texas Tribune first reported Sunday evening that Bush would file for the seat, citing an email that his father, Neil Bush, sent to potential supporters. In the email, he touted his son’s work in the nonprofit sector and asked friends to donate to the campaign.
The development is something of a surprise because Bush was once considering running for the neighboring 7th Congressional District, a seat once held by his grandfather. But after Olson announced his retirement in late July, Bush began being talked about as a potential candidate for that seat instead. He never publicly commented on the race.
Pierce Bush begins his TX-22 campaign with high name identification, given his grandfather, his cousin – Land Commissioner George P. Bush – and his uncle, former Texas governor and President George W. Bush.
But it will not be an assured road for him, or any candidate. There are at least 17 other Republicans running.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls announced his own Republican candidacy on Saturday. Bush will also face activist Kathaleen Wall, a Republican political donor who spent $6 million of her own money in an unsuccessful bid for the 2018 GOP nomination in the nearby Texas 2nd Congressional District. Other Republican candidates who have already filed with the state party include Dan Matthews, Reddy Banger, Greg Hill, Aaron Hermes, Matt Hinton, John Camarillo, Diana Miller, Joe Walz and Shandon Phan.
It is likely that no candidate will avoid a runoff by winning the majority vote needed to secure the nomination on the March 3 primary.
“Pierce will have a tough primary in March,” Neil Bush wrote in the email. “There are candidates who have already announced but not one of them has gained substantial traction, giving Pierce an opportunity to sprint to a victory.”
The 22nd District is a once-Republican stronghold turned sharply toward Democrats in the last cycle. Olson easily carried the district by 19 points in 2016. Facing a spirited challenge from Democrat Sri Kulkarni last year, Olson’s margined shrank to a mere five points.
Democrats are promising a full offensive there and Kulkarni is running again. He will face attorney Nyanza Davis Moore and Pearland City Councilman Derrick Reed in the Democratic primary.
