[52][53] He was a campaign advisor and liaison to the media, and assisted his father by campaigning across the country.[54] In December 1991, Bush was one of seven people named by his father to run his father's 1992 presidential re-election campaign as a campaign advisor.[55] The previous month, his father had asked him to tell White House chief of staff John H. Sununu to resign.[56]

Texas governorship (1995–2000)
Main article: Governorship of George W. Bush
Bush declared his candidacy for the 1994 Texas gubernatorial election at the same time his brother Jeb sought the governorship in Florida. His campaign focused on four themes: welfare reform, tort reform, crime reduction, and education improvement.[54] Bush's campaign advisers were Karen Hughes, Joe Allbaugh, and Karl Rove.[57]

Governor Bush (right) with father, former president George H. W. Bush, and wife, Laura, 1997
After easily winning the Republican primary, Bush faced popular Democratic incumbent Governor Ann Richards.[54][58] In the course of the campaign, Bush pledged to sign a bill allowing Texans to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons. Richards had vetoed the bill, but Bush signed it into law after he became governor.