Politics · United States · 1 day ago
James Talarico returns to Texas campaign trail after flu-related absence
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, returned to the campaign trail Friday at the Austin City Limits music festival.
His last in-person campaign event in Texas was on Sept.
26, and he said on Sept.
30 that he had the flu.
His campaign said he had been recovering and noted that he joined a forum online during his absence.
The gap drew criticism from Republican nominee Ken Paxton, who is running against Talarico for a Senate seat.
President Donald Trump also questioned Talarico’s absence, while some Democrats said they wanted him back on the trail.
Talarico’s campaign said he expected to resume a full schedule through the weekend.
He is due to take part in a CNN town hall in Fort Worth on Oct.
14, and Paxton has also been invited.
Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico returned to in-person campaigning on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Talarico’s campaign said he had been recovering from the flu, which he disclosed during a virtual appearance on Sept. 30.
His last in-person campaign event in Texas was a Sept. 26 news conference in Carrollton.
Republican opponent Ken Paxton and other Republicans criticized or mocked Talarico’s absence, while his campaign said he had also attended the Sept. 30 event virtually.
The campaign said Talarico planned to resume a full in-person schedule through the weekend before an Oct. 14 CNN town hall.
- Who
- James Talarico, Democratic Texas Senate nominee, and his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton
- What
- Talarico returned to in-person campaigning after an absence he attributed to the flu.
- When
- Friday, Oct. 9, 2026
- Where
- Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas
- Why
- Talarico’s campaign said he had been recovering from the flu.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
James Talarico is back on the campaign trail talking to voters at Austin City Limits
I was starting to feel kind of under the weather a few days ago, and last night it got so bad that I went to the urgent care here in Dallas, and I was diagnosed with the flu
TalaFREAKo has been missing for 12 days!
Believe me, we don’t want this right now. We’d rather have him on the trail.
Talarico held his last in-person campaign event in Texas, a news conference in Carrollton.
Talarico visited New York for a private fundraiser.
Talarico appeared virtually at a Hispanic Business Council event and said he had been diagnosed with the flu after visiting urgent care in Dallas.
Talarico returned to in-person campaigning at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Talarico was expected to take part in a CNN town hall.
- Candidate
- James Talarico, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas
- Opponent
- Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate
- Return to campaigning
- Oct. 9, 2026, at the Austin City Limits Music Festival
- Last in-person Texas campaign event before the return
- Sept. 26, 2026, in Carrollton
- Planned CNN town hall
- Oct. 14, 2026
Sources
James Talarico resurfaces after extended absence as his campaign pushes back
Texas Senate nominee James Talarico reappears after multi-day absence
James Talarico back on the trail after absence with flu drew scrutiny
James Talarico’s Time Off the Campaign Trail Rattles Texas Senate Race
Talarico’s 12-day absence from trail becomes fodder for GOP in Texas Senate race
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