James Talarico defends handling of nine day flu campaign absence

Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico stated on Wednesday night that he would not change how he handled his nine-day absence from the campaign trail. According to the Washington Examiner, Talarico made the comments during a live town hall hosted by CNN in Washington. [1]

The Washington Examiner reported that Talarico criticized his opponent, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, for fueling conspiracy theories while he was sick with the flu. Talarico returned to the campaign trail last weekend after right-wing activists spread theories on social media during his time away. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Talarico previously denied rumors that he had spent time in a mental health clinic, clarifying that his absence was caused by the flu. Paxton had previously shared mock missing person flyers targeting Talarico after he fell ill. Talarico had held an in-person fundraiser in New York City on September 29 before switching to virtual appearances. [3][4]

James Dell Talarico is an American politician, Presbyterian seminarian, and educator who has served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives since 2018. He won the Democratic primary on March 4, 2026, to become the Democratic nominee in the 2026 United States Senate election in Texas against Paxton. [2][3]