Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
James Talarico says flu kept him off Texas campaign trail for 10 days
James Talarico, a 37-year-old Democrat running for the US Senate in Texas, was away from in-person campaign events for about 10 days.
He said he had the flu, which he said was diagnosed at an urgent care clinic in Dallas, and stayed home to avoid infecting others.
He returned to the campaign trail at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Friday.
His Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and other Republicans drew attention to his absence with online posts and calls for people to report sightings.
Talarico dismissed a rumor that he had been treated at a mental health clinic in Ohio.
The dispute comes as he and Paxton are in a tight race, with the midterm elections only weeks away.
James Talarico said the flu kept him off the Texas campaign trail for 10 days.
The Democratic Senate hopeful said he was diagnosed with the flu at an urgent care clinic in Dallas.
He returned to campaigning at the Austin City Limits Music Festival after staying home to recover.
During his absence, Ken Paxton, Donald Trump and other Republicans spread claims that Talarico was missing.
Talarico dismissed a rumor that he had been treated at a mental health clinic.
- Who
- James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Texas.
- What
- He said the flu kept him off the campaign trail for 10 days.
- When
- He returned on a Friday, 10 days after his last in-person appearance. The article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Texas; he said he was diagnosed at an urgent care clinic in Dallas and returned at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
- Why
- He said he was recovering from the flu and wanted to avoid infecting others.
James Talarico
Ken Paxton and Republican allies
Talarico's absence
James Talarico
Talarico said he was home recovering from the flu.
Ken Paxton and Republican allies
Paxton and Republican allies portrayed him as missing and promoted claims about his whereabouts.
Mental health rumor
James Talarico
Talarico dismissed the rumor that he was being treated at a mental health clinic.
Ken Paxton and Republican allies
Online claims said he had been admitted to a mental health facility in Ohio.
Last night, it got so bad I went to the urgent care here in Dallas, and I was diagnosed with the flu, so I'm running a fever and I'm at my most contagious right now
If I was passing on this illness to somebody and got someone's grandmother or someone's baby sick, I couldn't live with myself
MISSING IN ACTION!
We’ve tried posters. We’ve tried a formal proof-of-life request. Now we’re asking every Texan to join the search for Jimmy
Talarico held an in-person campaign event at a fundraiser in New York City.
He appeared virtually before a business council and said he had fallen ill; he said he went to urgent care in Dallas and was diagnosed with the flu.
Paxton and Republican allies circulated claims that Talarico was missing, and some online claimed he was in a mental health facility in Ohio.
Talarico returned to the campaign trail at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and said he had been recovering from the flu.
- Candidate
- James Talarico, Democratic Senate hopeful
- Opponent
- Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general
- Absence
- 10 days from in-person campaigning
- Diagnosis
- Flu, at an urgent care clinic in Dallas
- Return
- Austin City Limits Music Festival, on a Friday
- Rumor
- Online claims said Talarico was at a mental health facility in Ohio
Sources
Related news
Judge orders Trump administration to stop government-funded ads
Trump and Rubio weigh firing US ambassador to Greece amid misconduct allegations
Graham and Andrews clash in only scheduled South Carolina Senate debate
Trump’s plan to import Russian diesel draws bipartisan criticism
Fox News hosts clash over Trump’s Russian diesel decision
Van Jones says criticism of Abdul El-Sayed should focus on his policies
Corruption debate could shape midterm voting
South Carolina Senate candidates clash in only scheduled debate
US ambassador to Greece faces allegations over request for $100,000
Katie Zacharia to hold first news conference as White House press secretary
US Justice Department investigates five TV companies over alleged antitrust violations
