Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has been off the campaign trail for 12 days due to the flu, sparking political attacks from Ken Paxton and concerns within his own party during a critical election stretch.
The clock is ticking on a high-stakes Texas Senate race that Democrats have long viewed as a potential breakthrough. yet the candidate they are pinning their hopes on is currently nowhere to be found. For the past 12 days, state Rep. James Talarico has been absent from the campaign trail. sidelined by a severe case of the flu at a time when campaigns typically shift into high gear to capture the attention of late-deciding voters.
Talarico’s last in-person event took place on Sept. 26. While he managed a quick trip to New York on Sept. 29 for a private fundraiser, he returned to Dallas and sought medical attention at an urgent care facility the following day. Since then, he has stayed off the physical trail, appearing only virtually at a forum.
The silence has provided an opening for his opponent, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. His campaign is now demanding proof that Talarico is even fit to continue. with spokeswoman Madison Cercy mockingly requesting a photo of the candidate holding a newspaper to verify the current date. “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,” Cercy said. “If James Talarico is too fragile to face Texans, he has no business asking for their vote.”.
Behind the scenes, the frustration among Texas Democrats is palpable. One party insider involved in the race admitted the situation is far from ideal. “He’s like, really sick. Believe me, we don’t want this right now,” the person said. “We’d rather have him on the trail.” Talarico’s campaign has maintained a consistent line. with spokesman JT Ennis noting that the candidate has already held over 100 public events and shaken tens of thousands of hands. Ennis expects Talarico to return this weekend, while simultaneously attacking Paxton for ignoring Texans and catering to billionaire megadonors.
Strategist Ed Espinoza suggested the absence might not be as damaging as opponents hope. With roughly $80 million in television ads saturating the airwaves. Espinoza argues Talarico remains a constant presence in the lives of voters regardless of his physical whereabouts. “He may be recovering at home, but he is still everywhere,” Espinoza said. Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder acknowledged the absence isn’t ideal but insisted that the priority remains Talarico’s recovery. noting that the candidate is on the mend.
The timing of the illness is particularly sensitive, as Paxton himself has faced a stream of damaging audio leaks. These recordings feature the Republican candidate questioning the utility of Trump’s midterm convention and suggesting that cuts to mandatory spending are inevitable. Despite these distractions, the pressure from the top of the Republican ticket has been unrelenting. At a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday. Donald Trump mocked Talarico’s disappearance and questioned his health before later issuing a social media demand for an immediate debate against Paxton.
Talarico, still recovering, used the moment to turn the tables. After Trump suggested Paxton should take the debate stage, Talarico posted on social media: “President Trump just said Ken Paxton should debate. I agree. Ball’s in your court @KenPaxtonTX.”
James Talarico Ken Paxton Texas Senate race election 2024 Texas politics