'I had the flu': Talarico returns to campaign trail, rejects conspiracy theories about absence

WASHINGTON, DC: Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico firmly dismissed speculation about his recent absence from the campaign trail on Sunday, October 11, saying that he had been recovering from the flu at home.

The 37-year-old returned to the campaign trail over the weekend after Republican opponent Ken Paxton and President Donald Trump questioned his whereabouts and amplified doubts about his illness. Talarico, who is competing against Paxton in a closely watched Senate race, accused online commentators and media outlets of spreading unverified claims.

James Talarico says flu kept him home as Donald Trump and Ken Paxton question absence

Upon return, Talarico shared his health updates and commented on the speculation over his absence. “I had the flu. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s wild that someone can just post something on the internet and then the media just runs with it," he told MS NOW. 

The state representative said that he had continued working from home while recovering, holding meetings with his campaign team over Zoom. Talarico revealed on September 30 that he had been diagnosed with the flu after beginning to feel unwell and visiting an urgent care facility in Dallas. 

The Democratic Senate nominee returned to public view on Friday at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and was seen attending a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas on Saturday. 

His absence became a focus of Republican attacks during the final stretch of the Senate campaign. At a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday, Paxton led a “Where is James Talarico” chant, while his campaign published social media posts claiming that the Democrat was “nowhere to be seen.” Trump also described Talarico as “missing in action” in a Truth Social post.

Trump also commented on his absence during a campaign rally in Tennessee on Saturday, claiming that "he had the longest flu ever recorded. He was away for, like, almost 14 days." 

Critics also circulated an unsubstantiated claim that Talarico was receiving treatment for a stress-induced episode. The Democrat firmly rejected that allegation as well, saying that the claim is “not true. I just had the flu and feel much better. But it’s a good reminder that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.”

James Talarico and Ken Paxton trade barbs ahead of scheduled Town Hall

Talarico accused Paxton of avoiding a debate, using a joke to turn the criticism back on his Republican opponent. “I’ve heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical levels of cowardice,” he said. “He has asked for proof of life from me, I’m asking for proof of spine from him.”

Paxton has continued questioning the Democrat’s explanation after Talarico returned to public events. “I don’t know whether to believe him about the flu or not, I just know that … almost everything that he says has been false since the beginning of this campaign,” the Texas attorney general said.

Talarico is scheduled to participate in a town hall on Wednesday, hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media in Fort Worth, moderated by Erin Burnett. The organisers have also invited Paxton.