George P. Bush survives spirited Texas Republican primary challenge

AUSTIN — Two Republicans, including one with a name as famous as any in Texas politics, survived spirited primary challenges Tuesday that aimed to recapture at least part of the GOP that has shown signs of slipping away.

In the Republican race for Texas land commissioner, first-term incumbent George P. Bush was leading the man who held the office for 12 years ending with the 2014 election as well as two other challengers en route to renomination.

"Texas voters - THANK YOU! Your steadfast support through this primary is what has made tonight’s victory possible!" Bush said in a message on Twitter after his victory was sealed.

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Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, whose penchant for off-color and sometimes offensive tweets and speeches have drawn comparisons with President Trump, was well ahead of two challengers.

Both races were closely watched, but for different reasons.

A runoff for Bush, the grandson of one president and the nephew of another, would have been a sign of weakness and could have stalled what four years ago started as a promising career in a family that has won political success first in New England where his great-grandfather was a U.S. senator, and later in both Texas and Florida.

Bush's own father is a former two-term governor of the Sunshine State and two years ago made his own bid, albeit unsuccessfully, for the presidency.

Source: usatoday