Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico returned to the campaign trail on Friday after a 13-day absence, addressing speculation about his whereabouts. His campaign attributed the break to a diagnosis of the flu, which they stated would not prevent him from resuming public events. Talarico was seen mingling with voters at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas, marking his first in-person appearance since late September.
The absence began in the final stretch of a closely watched Senate race against Republican incumbent Ken Paxton, drawing criticism from political opponents, including former President Donald Trump. Trump posted on Truth Social that Talarico had been "MISSING IN ACTION" for 12 days, questioning the flu diagnosis and suggesting broader speculation about his absence. Talarico’s campaign spokesperson, JT Ennis, responded on social media platform X, stating, "Hate to disappoint the conspiracy theorists, but James is still alive and meeting with voters at ACL today," accompanied by a video of the candidate interacting with supporters.
Talarico’s last public campaign event prior to the break was a Sept. 26 news conference in Carrollton, where he addressed rising gas prices. His reappearance at the festival occurred one day before the weekend, as initially projected by his campaign. The Senate race is considered a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, with polls showing Talarico leading by an average of 2.8 points according to RealClearPolling.
Meanwhile, Republicans have significantly increased financial support for Paxton’s campaign in the final stretch. The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC backing Paxton, announced plans to spend an additional $30 million on television advertisements in Texas, bringing its total spending to approximately $155 million on TV ads and $200 million overall. This surge in funding follows reports that Paxton’s campaign has struggled amid concerns over gas prices and the Iran war, which Paxton has publicly defended as a necessary action by the Trump administration.
The race remains highly competitive, with both candidates emphasizing different policy priorities. Talarico’s campaign has focused on economic issues, while Paxton’s supporters highlight his record as Texas Attorney General and alignment with conservative policies. The outcome of the election could determine whether Texas, which has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1993, sees a shift in its political representation.