Talarico Attends Texas Festival After Paxton Trolls Democrat's Flu Absence
James Talarico resurfaced at ACL Fest after nearly two weeks off the campaign trail with the flu.
On Friday, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico made an unexpected appearance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, ending a two-week mystery surrounding his whereabouts after contracting the flu. The Texas Democrat, who is challenging Republican incumbent Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate, had faced ridicule from Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who dubbed him "MISSING IN ACTION" and demanded a debate.
Talarico's reappearance came as early voting was set to begin in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation. Campaign spokesman JT Ennis confirmed Talarico's presence at the festival, stating that he attends every year and emphasized the importance of safety and health. The Texas Democrat had been diagnosed with the flu on September 30 following a visit to an urgent care center in Dallas, where he experienced a fever.
His last significant in-person appearance in Texas was in late September, and he previously attended a New York fundraiser hosted by actor Robert De Niro before revealing his illness. The absence had become a popular target for Republicans, with Paxton's campaign launching a "Where's Jimmy?" effort and Trump amplifying the attacks during a rally in San Antonio, jokingly suggesting that the flu was a result of Talarico being "forced to eat meat for political reasons."
Despite the controversy, Talarico's campaign highlighted that the Republican nominee had not agreed to any debates, despite receiving multiple invitations.
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