Talarico's 12-Day Absence Fuels GOP Attacks in Texas Senate Race

Republicans have seized on Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico's 12-day absence from public campaign events as the Texas contest enters its final weeks. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee, and President Donald Trump have questioned Talarico's whereabouts, while his campaign says he is recovering from the flu and expects him to resume public appearances this weekend.

Paxton led a chant about his opponent's absence during a campaign rally in San Antonio on Wednesday. Trump also criticized Talarico on Truth Social, describing him as "MISSING IN ACTION" and calling for a debate between the two candidates.

Talarico's campaign has attributed his absence to illness while challenging Paxton to participate in a debate. The campaign says the Republican has yet to accept the challenge, which Talarico issued 83 days earlier.

"James looks forward to being back out this weekend after recovering from the flu," said JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico's campaign, on Thursday.

Ennis also pointed to Paxton's lack of participation in a debate, arguing that the Republican should answer questions from Texas voters. President Trump had also called for Paxton to debate Talarico, according to the campaign spokesperson.

"It's been 83 days since James challenged Ken Paxton to come out of hiding and answer Texans' question in a debate, which even President Trump called on him to do last night. Ball is in Paxton's court," Ennis said.

Talarico disclosed his flu diagnosis on September 30 while addressing the United States Hispanic Business Council remotely. He had been scheduled to attend the event in person but instead joined by video from Texas.

"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 told attendees gathered in Edinburg, Texas, by video conference.

He explained that his symptoms and the risk of transmitting the illness prompted him to avoid an in-person appearance.

"I'm running a fever, and I'm at 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," Talarico said.

Talarico's last public appearance in Texas before his illness was a September 26 news conference at a gas station in Carrollton. He discussed suspending the federal gas and diesel tax and ending the war with Iran. His campaign later confirmed that he attended a private fundraiser in New York City on September 28 featuring actor Robert De Niro.

"This is the kind of immediate action we need to provide Texans some relief at the pump in the middle of this affordability crisis," Talarico said at the Carrollton event.

Paxton, meanwhile, continued campaigning during Talarico's absence. He attended several events, including Trump's rally in San Antonio on Wednesday, a conversation with the United States Hispanic Business Council, and a presidential event in Denton.

During the Denton event, Trump said he had not known Paxton was present and jokingly called him a "pain in the ass." The president subsequently challenged Talarico to face Paxton in a debate in a Truth Social post Wednesday night.

"He should immediately report to a Debate Stage against Ken Paxton, who is ready, willing, and able," Trump wrote.

The Paxton campaign did not respond to a request for comment about Trump's proposed debate. Talarico has challenged Paxton to several debates, including one on Fox News, but the remaining time before Election Day is narrowing.

Talarico is scheduled to appear at a town hall hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media on October 14 in Fort Worth, Texas. The organizers have also invited Paxton to participate.

The candidates are competing for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton defeated Cornyn in a contentious Republican primary in May, setting up the general-election contest against Talarico.

A recent New York Times/Siena University poll showed Talarico leading Paxton by six percentage points. Republicans have responded to the competitive race by increasing advertising across Texas, a state Trump won by double digits in 2024.

Campaign spending figures cited in the report show Republicans have more than $190 million in advertising reserved in Texas from September through November, compared with $52 million reserved by Democrats over the same period.