Democratic Senate Candidate James Talarico Misses 12 Days of Campaigning Due to Flu
Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico has been absent from in-person events for nearly two weeks after contracting the flu, prompting criticism from Republican opponent Ken Paxton and mixed reactions from party officials.
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has been off the campaign trail for 12 days after falling ill with the flu, his campaign said, and is expected to resume in-person appearances this weekend. The last on-the-ground event he held in Texas was on Sept. 26, and although he participated virtually in a Hispanic Business Council forum, he visited urgent care in Dallas after a fundraising trip to New York.
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign has demanded proof of Talarico’s whereabouts, with spokeswoman Madison Cercy stating, "We have a simple request: proof of life. James Talarico wants to represent 31 million Texans in the U.S. Senate, but for 12 days, he’s hidden from every one of them."
Talarico’s spokesperson JT Ennis said the candidate will return to the trail this weekend and accused Paxton of ignoring Texans, adding that the Republican’s priorities lie with “billionaire megadonors and special interests.” Democratic strategist Ed Espinoza noted that Talarico’s campaign is running about $80 million in advertising, which he said mitigates the impact of the candidate’s temporary absence.
Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder described the situation as “not ideal” but emphasized the importance of the candidate’s health, calling Talarico a “phenomenal candidate” who has worked hard throughout the race. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in San Antonio, questioned Talarico’s whereabouts and urged him to appear for a debate with Paxton.