George Bush’s Nephew Considering Run For Governor

It looks like another Bush is looking to throw their hat into the political ring.

The nephew of former President George H.W. Bush is considering running for governor.

Jonathan Bush, the nephew of the late George H.W. Bush and the cousin of former President George W. Bush, has been making moves that indicate he’s considering running for governor of Maine.

The Bangor Daily News had these details to report on Bush’s potential run:

Jonathan Bush, the nephew of former President George H.W. Bush and cousin of former President George W. Bush, said Monday he is forming an exploratory committee to consider running for Maine governor in 2026.

The 56-year-old health tech entrepreneur and Cape Elizabeth resident has been open about his potential ambitions ever since the Bangor Daily News first mentioned last year his moves to wade deeper into Maine politics. But Monday’s announcement from Bush is a firm sign he is getting close to entering next year’s gubernatorial field that already includes an array of names seeking to succeed Gov. Janet Mills when the Democrat leaves office due to term limits.

It would put one of America’s most storied political families, with ties to Maine through its compound in Kennebunkport, back in the picture for a prominent office after two Bushes in Texas lost primaries in 2022 and after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ran in the 2016 Republican presidential primary won by President Donald Trump. The late George H.W. Bush was the last Republican to carry Maine in a presidential election, winning the state in 1988.

Bush, who grew up in Manhattan and cofounded health care tech firm Athenahealth before launching Boston-based Zus Health, said Monday he would run as a Republican if he joins the Maine gubernatorial field. He said in a statement he has “made a career out of disrupting the status quo and delivering real results, including the creation of hundreds of good-paying jobs right here in Maine, and I know how important it is to have real leaders to drive real change.”

“Maine is the greatest state in the nation. But one thing is clear: we’re being let down by Janet Mills and the Augusta politicians,” Bush said. “Working class Mainers are paying far too much for far too little, and our state needs a dramatic change in direction to ensure everyone is able to realize the American Dream right here in Maine.”

🚨Report: Jonathan Bush, nephew of former President George H. W. Bush and cousin of President George W. Bush, has now formed an exploratory committee to run for Governor of Maine in 2026 as a Republican pic.twitter.com/axt0j9JLGN

— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) July 22, 2025

Watch Jonathan Bush here:

Jonathan Bush joined @MuddyWatersME and described how most Mainers no longer have the opportunity to achieve the American dream if they remain in the state.

The appearance comes amid speculation that Bush could be considering a run for governor:https://t.co/vrlhgHVKOb pic.twitter.com/8SEyBmhOdl

— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) July 16, 2025

The Maine Wire reported more on Jonathan Bush’s potential run:

When the legacy media in Maine latches onto an idea, many who have been around the block more than once take a skeptical pause. For reasons that are themselves eyebrow arching, Maine’s “mainstream” press seem intent on the idea that long-time summer person and recent year-rounder Jonathan Bush should be the Republican nominee for governor next year.

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On Monday, the Bangor Daily News ran an exclusive story that Bush, 56, has launched an exploratory committee. A nephew of former president George H.W. Bush and cousin U.S. president George W. Bush and Florida governor Jeb Bush — as well as Billy Bush of Access Hollywood fame — Jonathan was born with one of America’s most famous political surnames, indeed that of a dynasty.

This week’s article followed on an earlier piece the BDN ran earlier this year on Bush that centered on his belief Maine is thinking too small when it comes to our economy — being humble little peasants, thinking small may be our lot, but in that article the scion of the famous political family urged us to broaden our conceptual horizons, which was big of him, really.

The real reason for the March article in Maine’s once somewhat conservative newspaper was to announce Bush’s podcast “Maine for Keeps” which aims to “jumpstart the dialogue about the things that hold Maine back,” which in itself is a worthwhile endeavor. Episodes to date have focused on zoning and construction laws, nuclear energy, and the failure of the state to integrate communications and record keeping between police departments — all of which are legitimate questions of the sort someone considering a run for governor might pose.

As his thinking on Maine politics developed, Bush reportedly took a Maine reporter “for beers” on a boat cruise to North Haven, home of Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D) who, like Bush, is a high net worth individual.