James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Texas, confirmed his return to the campaign trail after a bout with the flu that kept him away from public events for several days. In a recent interview with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, Talarico explained that his absence was strictly due to health reasons.

Details of His Absence

Talarico hadn’t participated in in-person campaign events since September 26. On September 30, he addressed a forum virtually, admitting that he was unwell. “I was in bed, drinking lots of liquids,” he remarked. Despite being unwell, he continued to work from home to support his campaign, expressing that avoiding the public was crucial to prevent spreading illness.

Response to Speculation

In the period of Talarico’s absence, some conservative commentators speculated on social media about his mental health. One unfounded claim suggested he was undergoing treatment at the Lindner Center of Hope in Ohio. Talarico addressed these rumors directly, stating, “The internet’s doing its thing,” and clarified, “That’s not true. I just had the flu, and I feel much better. But it’s a good reminder that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.”

The Lindner Center also publicly refuted the claims, confirming through social media that Talarico had never received treatment at their facility.

Political Implications

Talarico’s absence comes during a critical time in a tightly contested Senate race. His Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, seized the opportunity to question Talarico’s visibility and even requested “proof of life” via a photo with a current newspaper. In response to that, Talarico sarcastically urged Paxton to demonstrate “proof of spine” by agreeing to participate in a public debate, an event that neither candidate has yet scheduled.

During a recent campaign rally in San Antonio, former President Donald Trump highlighted Talarico’s period of absence and echoed calls for a debate, further adding pressure for Paxton to engage with his opponent.

Future Campaign Activities

Now that Talarico is back on the campaign trail as of Friday, he has accepted multiple invitations for debates. However, Paxton has not yet committed to any formal debate scheduled, drawing concern from both sides of the political spectrum regarding engagement with voters in the lead-up to the election.