James Talarico Absent From Texas Senate Trail 12 Days With Flu

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has not appeared at an in-person campaign event in the state since Sept. 26, according to NBC News. His campaign says he has the flu and expects him back on the trail this weekend.

The absence stretches across 12 days in a race Democrats have described as their best shot at the seat in decades, against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico has appeared virtually at one forum during the stretch, but has not held an in-person event in Texas in nearly two weeks, NBC News reported.

What has Talarico said about his illness?

Talarico addressed his health directly during a virtual appearance before the Hispanic Business Council, where he was coughing and blowing his nose through the event, according to NBC News.

"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, per the outlet. "I'm running a fever, and I'm my most contagious right now."

NBC News reported that Talarico traveled to New York on Sept. 29 for a private fundraiser and, by his own account in the virtual remarks, returned to Dallas and went to urgent care the following day.

Why is Paxton's campaign calling for "proof of life"?

Paxton's campaign has used the absence to question Talarico's fitness for the race. Spokeswoman Madison Cercy told NBC News the campaign wants visual confirmation that Talarico is still active.

"We have a simple request: proof of life. 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."

The Paxton campaign has specifically asked for a photo of Talarico holding a newspaper showing the current date, NBC News reported — a format often used to demonstrate someone is alive and current in hostage or missing-persons situations.

How are Texas Democrats reacting to the absence?

Reaction among Texas Democrats has been mixed, according to NBC News. Some are treating the illness as a routine campaign hiccup. Others are more anxious about the timing, given how close the race is believed to be in its final stretch.

"He's, like, really sick. Believe me, we don't want this right now," a Texas Democrat involved in the race told NBC News. "We'd rather have him on the trail."

No Democratic official quoted by NBC News has disputed that Talarico is genuinely ill; the disagreement inside the party is over how much the lost days matter with voters still tuning in.

What does this mean for the race in its final stretch?

NBC News frames the timing as consequential because campaigns typically see turnout and persuasion efforts intensify in the closing weeks, when more voters are paying attention. A candidate absent from in-person events during that window loses chances for local media coverage, rallies, and face-to-face contact that both parties consider decisive in close races.

Talarico's campaign has not disputed the length of the absence and told NBC News he is expected to resume in-person campaigning this weekend. The Paxton campaign's public pressure campaign, built around the "proof of life" demand, is designed to keep attention on the gap regardless of the medical explanation.

Glossary: Key terms in the Texas Senate flu dispute

Proof of life — A demand, often used in hostage or missing-persons contexts, for current visual evidence that someone is alive and accounted for; Paxton's campaign applied the phrase to Talarico's campaign absence.

In-person event — A campaign appearance where the candidate is physically present with voters or media, as distinct from a virtual or remote appearance such as Talarico's Hispanic Business Council forum.

Urgent care — A walk-in medical clinic for conditions that need prompt attention but are not emergencies; Talarico said he was diagnosed with the flu at an urgent care facility in Dallas.

For the full account, including the campaign's statements and Paxton's demand, see NBC News' original report.

Quotags is A quote-card app first shipped in 2013. Version 2.0 is returning soon — do not install an old binary.