Updated at 11:35 a.m. on Thursday: Revised to include comment from Rep. Pete Sessions and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

WASHINGTON — Former President George W. Bush is hosting a series of fundraising events for vulnerable Republican candidates, including a couple of House members facing tough re-election bids in his home state of Texas.

Politico first reported that Bush held a closed-door event Wednesday morning in Fort Worth for Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, and will host a similar gathering next week in Dallas for Rep. Pete Sessions, the Republican who serves as Bush's congressman.

The former president will also headline fundraisers in the coming days and weeks for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is running for Senate in that state; North Dakota Senate candidate Kevin Cramer; Missouri Senate candidate Josh Hawley; and Indiana Senate candidate Mike Braun.

"While he prefers to consider himself retired from politics, President Bush recognizes how important it is to keep the Senate and decided to help a few key candidates," Bush spokesman Freddy Ford told Politico.

Noticeably absent from the list is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican who is facing a surprisingly robust challenge from Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.

Cruz once worked for the former commander in chief, both on Bush's presidential campaign and then in his administration. The senator also met his wife, Heidi, while working for Bush's campaign, leading him to say that he "will always be grateful" to the former president.

But Bush hasn't reciprocated many warm feelings for Cruz, who made his name by rebelling against the GOP establishment that Bush represents.

Bush reportedly dissed Cruz at a private fundraising event in late 2015 by saying, "I just don't like the guy." Bush and his wife, Laura, also haven't given to Cruz's campaigns, despite supporting other Republicans since leaving the White House, according to campaign finance records.

Ford, the Bush spokesman, on Wednesday said there are currently no plans to host a fundraising event for Cruz, adding that he's not aware of the senator having requested such assistance.

"We've considered the requests we've received and accepted those that work with our schedule," he told The Dallas Morning News.

Bush's forays into other races in Texas and across the U.S. reflect the serious headwinds facing the GOP in the November elections, where Republican control of the House and Senate could hinge on how voters feel about the early tenure of President Donald Trump.

The former president has generally avoided public involvement in politics since returning to Texas, though he notably didn't vote for Trump and has made some thinly veiled criticisms of Trump.

Bush's fundraising on behalf of Sessions, his congressman, is of particular note. The longtime incumbent is facing his first real Democratic challenge in years, thanks to a campaign by Colin Allred, a former NFL player who served in President Barack Obama's administration.

"He's really proud that Pete Sessions is his congressman and wants to support him," Ford, the Bush spokesman, told The News.

Sessions, in a nod to the high stakes, has been relying on that kind of heavyweight support of late.

"It is a tremendous honor to, once again, have President Bush and his wonderful wife, Laura, standing with me for re-election," he said Thursday in a news release. "They understand I have always championed policies to create broad-based growth and opportunities for North Texas families."

House Speaker Paul Ryan stumped Monday with Sessions in Dallas. U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, the former Texas governor, made an appearance with Sessions last month. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will headline a fundraiser for Sessions next week, the Texas Tribune reported. And a senior strategist to Vice President Mike Pence's political action committee said Pence will also campaign for Sessions.

That slate earned mockery Thursday from Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"This is the same person who said he didn't need any help from any outside investment, that he could do this on his own," Lujan said during a sit-down with regional reporters. "Clearly this is a competitive seat that's receiving the attention of the GOP, that they're sounding the alarms."

Hurd also faces a stiff test in his West Texas district from Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones.

Ford, the Bush spokesman, said the former president is "very impressed with Will Hurd," explaining that the contest is a "really important race in President Bush's state that he also wanted to get behind."