Politics
‘REALLY SICK’: Dems Panic As Talarico’s Mysterious ‘Illness’ Stretches To Two Weeks
With the November midterms rapidly approaching, Talarico has not attended an in-person campaign event in Texas since Sept. 26, according to NBC News.
His campaign insists the Democrat is battling the flu and plans to return this weekend. But the prolonged absence has rattled some Texas Democrats who would rather see their candidate shaking hands than recovering behind closed doors.
“He’s, like, really sick. Believe me, we don’t want this right now,” a Texas Democrat involved in the Talarico race said. “We’d rather have him on the trail.”
Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign wasted little time turning the disappearance into a political liability, demanding photographic evidence that Talarico is alive and well.
“We have a simple request: proof of life,” Paxton campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy said. “James Talarico wants to represent 31 million Texans in the U.S. Senate, but for 12 days, he’s hidden from every one of them. There’s a reason they call it ‘Texas Tough,’ and it’s not because Texans hide at the first sign of trouble. If James Talarico is too fragile to face Texans, he has no business asking for their vote.”
Trump on the mysterious disappearance of James Talarico: “You haven’t seen him in a couple weeks. I hear the guy has disappeared. You know where he is? He’s SICK, because he’s been forced to eat meat for political reasons and he’s throwing up all over the place.” https://t.co/iPhZ9vxdQz
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 7, 2026
Talarico’s last reported public appearance outside Texas was a private New York fundraiser Sept. 29. The following day, he participated virtually in a Hispanic Business Council event, where he appeared visibly ill, coughing and blowing his nose.
“I was starting to feel kind of under the weather a few days ago, and last night it got so bad that I went to the urgent care here in Dallas, and I was diagnosed with the flu,” Talarico said at the time. “I’m running a fever, and I’m my most contagious right now. And I guess I’ve been shaking too many hands on the campaign trail, and so I want to keep everybody safe.”
A local FOX affiliate asked Talarico for a “proof of life” zoom interview but were turned down.
“He’s really knocked down by this flu bug.” https://t.co/MZo2I63f6n
— Jacob Wheeler (@JWheelertv) October 9, 2026
President Donald Trump joined the criticism Wednesday during a rally in San Antonio, mocking the Democrat’s extended absence.
“You haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks,” Trump said. “I hear the guy has disappeared. Nobody knows. You know where he is? He’s sick, because he’s forced to eat meat for political reasons and he’s throwing up all over the place.”
Trump later took to Truth Social, challenging James Talarico to face Paxton on the debate stage.
“He should immediately report to a Debate Stage against Ken Paxton, who is ready, willing, and able, one of the best Attorney Generals in the Country, and will soon be, hopefully, a United States Senator representing the Great People of Texas!”
RELATED: NEW: Talarico’s Mysterious Absence Raises Major Questions As Trump Rails ‘Flu’ Claim
Talarico’s campaign fired back, accusing Paxton of avoiding voters while insisting its candidate would return shortly.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder acknowledged the absence had handed Republicans an opportunity, admitting Paxton had caught a break.
Meanwhile, Talarico responded to Trump’s debate challenge on social media.
“President Trump just said Ken Paxton should debate,” Talarico wrote. “I agree. Ball’s in your court @KenPaxtonTX.”
For now, Paxton is campaigning while Democrats await their candidate’s promised return, an unwelcome development as the clock ticks toward Election Day.
