James Talarico Returns to Texas Senate Race, Says Flu Kept Him Off Trail Since Sept. 30
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 11
James Talarico Returns to Texas Senate Race, Says Flu Kept Him Off Trail Since Sept. 30
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 11
Summary
James Talarico said Sunday he had the flu, not a medical or mental-health crisis, after days of speculation over his disappearance from the Texas Senate campaign.
Sept. 30 was when the Democrat said he was diagnosed at urgent care in Dallas; he said he worked from home, joined team meetings on Zoom and skipped public events while recovering.
Friday and Saturday marked his return, with appearances at Austin City Limits and a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas after his last known in-person campaign events on Sept. 26 and private New York fundraisers on Sept. 28-29.
Ken Paxton and Republican allies had amplified the absence with 'Where is James Talarico' attacks, while Trump called him 'MISSING IN ACTION'; Paxton said Sunday he still questioned the flu explanation.
The episode lands in a tight race that could help decide Senate control, with Talarico now turning attention to a CNN-Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth on Wednesday that has also invited Paxton.