The daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush, Barbara Pierce Bush, has voiced her support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Last weekend, Bush campaigned for the Democratic presidential candidate in Pennsylvania and expressed her desire to see Harris elected as the first Black woman president of the United States.
“It was inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign in Pennsylvania this weekend,” the 42-year-old told PEOPLE on Tuesday, October 29. “I’m hopeful they’ll move our country forward and protect women’s rights.”
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Barbara’s father who was a Republican, served as president from 2001 to 2009, yet her mother, former First Lady Laura Bush, has occasionally diverged from traditional party lines.
In 2010, Laura Bush publicly supported same-sex marriage and abortion rights, and stated that abortion should “remain legal, because I think it’s important for people, for medical reasons and other reasons.”
Barbara Bush has also been vocal on women’s issues. In March 2017, she advocated for Planned Parenthood and spoke at a fundraiser for the organization. “I am proud to stand with Planned Parenthood not only because women, regardless of where they are from, deserve to live dignified, healthy lives,” she said at the event, according to The Texas Tribune. “We know that when women are healthy, their families and their children are healthier, too.”
Although Barbara has identified as independent since 2010, her support for Harris now reflects a clear stance in this election.
Her parents have not publicly commented on the 2024 race, yet former Vice President Dick Cheney, who previously served under George W. Bush, recently announced his support for Harris.
Cheney’s daughter, who is former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, has also endorsed Harris and has campaigned with her.
Harris has additionally received support from Susan Ford Bales, the daughter of the late President Gerald Ford, who condemned the divisive state of politics in an October 21 statement.
“America cannot regress back to a divisive paradigm of loathing toward one another and disdain for our Constitution,” Bales wrote, referring to the January 6 Capitol attack as a moment that must not be repeated.
Barbara Bush is a nonprofit leader and author with a master’s in public administration from Harvard University, and co-founder of Global Health Corps in 2009, a nonprofit aimed at addressing global health issues. She is also the co-author of a memoir in 2017 with her twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager.
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In a recent interview, Jenna, co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna on NBC, lauded Barbara’s influence on her own life, as per a PEOPLE report. “I don’t think I’d have this job. I don’t know [that] I would’ve started this book club,” Jenna said. “She makes me feel brave and empowered because she was my first audience.”
