Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has returned to the campaign trail in Texas after roughly two weeks away from in-person events, an absence his campaign attributes to the flu and that Republican opponent Ken Paxton has mocked as paid time off. Talarico, a state representative from Austin, reappeared publicly Friday at the Austin City Limits Music Festival and was later spotted Saturday night at a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Talarico disclosed the flu diagnosis on Sept. 30 during a virtual appearance at a United States Hispanic Business Council event he had planned to attend in person. He said he had visited a Dallas urgent care clinic the night before after feeling increasingly ill and wanted to avoid spreading the illness. His last known in-person campaign stops before the gap included New York fundraisers, one of which featured actor Robert De Niro. The campaign said he spent the intervening time recovering at home in Austin.
Paxton’s campaign seized on the absence with social media posts, mock missing-person notices, and calls for “proof of life,” characterizing the time away as “two weeks of PTO.” President Donald Trump also publicly questioned Talarico’s whereabouts. Online speculation later escalated into claims that Talarico had been treated at the Lindner Center of Hope, a mental health facility near Cincinnati, Ohio. Campaign spokesman JT Ennis rejected those reports outright, calling them “a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory” and reiterating that Talarico had been home recovering from the flu. The Lindner Center of Hope separately stated that Talarico has never received treatment there. Talarico himself posted that he has never been to Ohio.
This is a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory. Last week James Talarico was home in Austin, Texas recovering from the flu.
— JT Ennis (@jt_ennis) October 11, 2026
With early voting set to begin Oct. 19 and Election Day on Nov. 3, the race remains closely watched. Talarico has continued to press Paxton for a debate, noting that Fox News has offered to host one if both candidates agree. Paxton’s campaign has said it is open to debating but has not finalized an event. No debate is currently scheduled.
The episode has drawn attention in a competitive contest for the seat currently held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Both campaigns have traded accusations over transparency and readiness as the calendar tightens.
