George P. Bush to Co-Chair Young Donor Effort for Dad
*This is not surprising. In fact, I’m surprised it hadn’t been announced before. Of course George P. and Jeb Jr. will raise funds for their dad. It’s a tough sell, thoygh, not becasue of the politics but becasue their target is the millennial generation. VL
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush is upping his involvement in his father’s presidential campaign, signing on as the co-chair of a donor drive aimed at young Republicans.
Along with his brother Jeb Bush Jr., George P. Bush will lead the program, which seeks to raise money from supporters under 35 years old, according to the White House campaign of the former Florida governor.
[pullquote][tweet_dis]George P. and Jeb Bush Jr. will lead an effort to raise funds for thier Dad from donors 35 yrs old and younger.[/tweet_dis][/pullquote]Potential founding members of the effort, called Mission NEXT, have been encouraged to give $2,700 to the campaign — the maximum amount — and bundle 10 more contributions between now and Aug. 13. The first 100 supporters who meet those targets will receive an invitation to a dinner with Jeb Bush Jr. next month at the home of the campaign’s national finance chairman, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
[pullquote]Potential founding members of the effort, called Mission NEXT, have been encouraged to give $2,700 to the campaign.[/pullquote]George P. Bush’s appeal among young GOP donors, especially in Texas, is well established. He is the chairman emeritus of Maverick PAC, a national organization of young Republican business and civic leaders that has a prominent chapter in Texas. He has already appeared at fundraisers in Texas geared toward young professionals for a super PAC that backs his father.
Jeb Bush’s campaign reiterated Monday that the land commissioner remains focused full time on his official responsibilities and will pitch in for his father’s campaign when he can. George P. Bush has so far been an occasional presence on the campaign trail, introducing his dad at his campaign kickoff in Miami, stumping for him in Nevada and more recently, lending a hand during a July 4 parade in New Hampshire.
Jeb Bush is expected to next visit Texas on Aug. 14 for a campaign fundraiser in Austin.
The Washington Post first reported George P. Bush would co-chair the effort.
This article was originally published in The Texas Tribune.
Patrick Svitek is a reporter for the Texas Tribune. He previously worked for the Houston Chronicle’s Austin bureau. He graduated in 2014 from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He originally is from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
[Photo by Gage Skidmore/Flickr]