The Democratic candidate for the Texas Senate, James Talarico, denounced on Sunday the numerous speculations about his fate in recent days, while the Republicans took advantage of his absence from the electoral campaign.
“I had the flu. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s crazy that someone can just post something on the internet and the media picks up on it,” Talarico told MS NOW.
The state representative, who is locked in a tight contest with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, said he has been working from home while recovering and has been meeting with his team via Zoom. Talarico returned to public events this weekend, seen speaking to attendees at the Austin City Limits music festival on Friday and front row at a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas on Saturday.
Paxton and his allies, however, have focused on the Democrat’s absence in the latter part of a race that could be crucial in determining control of the Senate.
At a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday, the GOP Senate candidate led a “Where’s James Talarico” chant into the crowd. Paxton’s campaign also released a series of social media posts claiming Talarico was “no where to be found.” President Donald Trump also weighed in, describing Talarico as “MISSING IN ACTION” in a Truth Social article.
A claim also circulated in conservative circles online that Talarico was receiving treatment for a stress-induced episode.
“It’s not true. I just had the flu and I feel much better. But it’s a good reminder that you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet,” Talarico told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth on Sunday.
Talarico revealed that he was diagnosed with the flu on September 30 during a virtual appearance at the United States Hispanic Business Council, an event he was supposed to attend in person. He said he started feeling ill and went to urgent care in Dallas.
Before his re-emergence this weekend, his last in-person campaign appearances were on September 26, when he held a news conference in Texas, and then on September 28, when a Talarico campaign source said the candidate attended a private fundraiser in New York with actor Robert DeNiro.
In his interview with MS NOW on Sunday, he dismissed speculation that there was another reason for his absence by calling it a “silly season in our politics” before focusing on Paxton, who has yet to agree to a debate.
“I have heard credible reports that Ken Paxton is suffering from a serious health condition that is causing clinical cowardice,” Talarico joked. “He asked me for proof of life, I ask him for proof of spine.”
Even after Talarico returned to public events, Paxton continued to cast suspicion on his absence.
“I don’t know whether to believe him or not about the flu, I just know that…almost everything he says has been false since the beginning of this campaign,” Paxton told Fox News Sunday night.
Talarico’s return to the campaign trail takes place Wednesday evening in a town hall hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media and moderated by Erin Burnett, live in Fort Worth, Texas. The media also extended an invitation to Paxton Town Hall.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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