Texas Democratic US Senate nominee James Talarico returned to the campaign trail Friday after nearly two weeks out of public view, putting an end to days of speculation and criticism from political opponents over his whereabouts.
“Hate to disappoint the conspiracy theorists, but James is still alive and meeting with voters at ACL today,” primary spokesperson JT Ennis wrote on X.
Ennis shared a video showing Talarico moving through the crowds and greeting supporters at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Talarico is challenging Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a closely watched US Senate race. Before Friday, he had not appeared in person at a campaign event since late September.
His most recent in-person event had been a Sept. 26 news conference in Carrollton focused on rising gas prices.
Talarico’s campaign said he had been sidelined by a severe case of the flu. The extended absence nevertheless prompted pointed criticism from Republicans, including President Trump.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the Democratic candidate was “MISSING IN ACTION.”
“TalaFREAKo has been missing for 12 days! Now, after looking for him throughout all of Texas, and beyond, probably even weirder places than anyone would think possible, he put out a statement that he has the ‘flu,’” Trump wrote.
“12 days is a long time to rid yourself of the so-called flu bug. What’s going on?” he added.
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“We need a Senator that’s a proven Champion like one that has been, without question, the Greatest Attorney General in the History of Texas, and one of the Greatest in the U.S.A.”
Talarico’s campaign disputed the claim that he had been away from the campaign trail for nearly two weeks, noting that he participated in a Zoom meeting with the US Hispanic Business Council on Sept. 30 after canceling an in-person appearance.
Based on that virtual appearance, the campaign said Talarico’s absence was closer to nine days.
Talarico’s last public event in Texas was the Sept. 26 campaign news conference in Carrollton. He also attended a fundraiser in New York City on Sept. 28.
The following day, he announced that he had been diagnosed with the flu.
Paxton also used Talarico’s absence as a talking point during his own campaign appearances.
“Where is James Talarico?” Paxton asked at a campaign rally in San Antonio.
Talarico’s campaign said he plans to resume a full in-person schedule through the weekend, ahead of an Oct. 14 CNN town hall.
The campaign has previously said that Talarico had completed more than 100 public events across Texas before falling ill.
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