Barbara Pierce Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush, made headlines this weekend as she publicly campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania, encouraging voters to support Harris in the upcoming November 5, 2024, election. At age 42, Barbara expressed her motivation in a statement to PEOPLE on October 29, saying, “I’m hopeful they’ll move our country forward and protect women’s rights.”
As an independent voice, Barbara’s endorsement reflects her enduring commitment to women’s health and rights, building on a history of activism that includes her 2017 speech at a Planned Parenthood fundraiser, where she emphasized the importance of accessible healthcare for women and families. “I am proud to stand with Planned Parenthood… because it’s a really good investment,” she stated, highlighting the positive impact on community health when women have access to dignified healthcare services.
While her parents, George and Laura Bush, have not voiced public support for any 2024 candidate, Barbara’s backing of Harris reflects the ongoing divide within prominent conservative families over issues like abortion and women’s rights. Laura Bush notably broke with the GOP stance on abortion in 2010, sharing her belief that the procedure should remain legal due to “medical and other reasons.”
Barbara has also aligned with other influential political figures who are crossing party lines in support of Harris. Among them is Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former President Gerald Ford, who voiced her concerns over America’s divisive political climate and referenced the importance of upholding the Constitution. “We witnessed on January 6 the horrors of what that looks like, and we can never allow a repeat of that tragedy,” Bales wrote in her endorsement of Harris.
Dick Cheney, former vice president under George W. Bush, and his daughter Liz Cheney, a former Wyoming representative, have also declared their support for Harris, further illustrating a trend of conservative leaders prioritizing what they view as essential principles over party loyalty.
Barbara’s life reflects a commitment to humanitarian causes through her work as a nonprofit leader and co-founder of Global Health Corps, which trains leaders to address global health challenges. Together with her twin sister Jenna Bush Hager, she penned a memoir in 2017, offering insight into their lives as public figures.
