Barbara Pierce Bush, the daughter of former President George W. Bush, has publicly backed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 Presidential race. This move indicates a significant shift from her family’s traditional allegiance to the Republican Party.

Barbara Bush has been actively campaigning for Harris in Pennsylvania, particularly in the politically balanced areas to the north of Philadelphia, where she expressed her hope that Harris would “move our country forward and protect women’s rights”.

Her endorsement has been applauded by Liz Cheney, a former Republican representative from Wyoming, for “standing for truth, decency, and freedom.”

The backing of Bush contributes to an increasing number of individuals with Republican connections supporting Harris. This includes Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who has described Trump as “a greater threat to our republic than any individual in our nation’s history,” and his daughter Liz Cheney, both of whom have endorsed Harris.

Endorsements for Harris are not confined to the Bush and Cheney families. Other prominent figures include Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former President Gerald Ford, Jimmy McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain, former Senators Jeff Flake and Nancy Kassebaum, as well as ex-Trump administration officials such as Anthony Scaramucci, Stephanie Grisham, and Olivia Troye.

Over 200 former Republican staff members who served under George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Senator Mitt Romney, and the late Senator John McCain have expressed their support for Harris by signing a letter of endorsement. Seventeen ex-staffers from President Ronald Reagan’s administration have also thrown their weight behind the Harris-Walz ticket.

Although George Bush has refrained from endorsing any candidate in the election, the Bush family has had a nuanced relationship with the Republican Party. Barbara Bush’s grandmother and former First Lady, Barbara Bush, had questioned how women could vote for Trump, and her uncle Jeb Bush had labeled him a “jerk” during the primary campaign in 2016.

Identifying as an independent, Barbara Bush has previously diverged from Republican stances. In 2017, she was the keynote speaker at a Planned Parenthood fundraiser in Texas. Her mother and former First Lady, Laura Bush, has publicly disagreed with the party’s position on issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion rights since 2010.

Barbara Bush is a co-founder of Global Health Corps, an organization addressing global health concerns, and has authored several books. Her twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager, a host on NBC’s “Today Show,” has voiced support for Barbara’s political viewpoint.