Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico explained his sudden two-week absence from the campaign trail in exclusive interviews released on Sunday. He stated he was sick with the flu while hiding at home, even as his Republican rival Ken Paxton demanded proof of his fitness for office.
Talarico reappeared at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Friday after vanishing from public view for nearly 14 days. He then attended a Kacey Musgrove concert in Dallas on Saturday night before finally speaking to reporters. Washington Examiner reported that Talarico told the Dallas Morning News he was “at home sick in bed with the flu.”
: My independent investigation into @JamesTalarico follows the initial reporting by @SaraGonzales and @CarolineWren concerning a reported private aircraft charter traveling from Hamilton, Ohio, to Austin, TX ➡️ Dallas, TX ➡️ Austin, TX.
I personally contacted @LindnerCtrHope in Mason, Ohio, to determine whether Talarico was or had previously been a patient.
During my recorded call, an individual identifying themselves as a female facility employee reportedly stated that Talarico was no longer a patient and had been discharged within the previous 24–48 hours.
Texans deserve accurate, independently verified information about candidates seeking to represent them in the U.S. Senate.
The stakes are too high for speculation.
— Rhein Amacher (@RheinAmacher) October 11, 2026
Talarico, who has Type 1 diabetes, said he took a break to ensure his sickness did not drag on too long. He called the rumors about his whereabouts “crazy” in a separate interview with MS Now. He had the flu. This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, he said regarding the speculation.
His campaign dismissed reports linking him to a mental health facility as “conspiracy theories.” However, independent journalists Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher claimed to find different answers. The Lindner Center of Hope publicly denied that he had received treatment there.
@nicksortor @jamestalarico Time is ticking, @TeamTalaricoHQ… ⏳
— Rhein Amacher (@RheinAmacher) October 11, 2026
“It looks like he was just discharged this evening,” the woman allegedly told Amacher on the phone. RedState noted that these journalists gave Talarico a deadline to explain his absence or face exposure.
Republican candidate Ken Paxton has been leading the charge to question Talarico’s ability to serve. He started a “Where is James Talarico?” chant at a rally last Wednesday. Paxton told Fox News on Sunday that he does not know whether to believe the flu story.
He added that almost everything Talarico says has been false since the campaign began. President Donald Trump also mocked the situation at a rally in Tennessee.
He noted that Talarico was missing for almost 14 days and called it a new strain of flu. The President said such an illness “keeps you out of commission for weeks.”
This is a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory. Last week James Talarico was home in Austin, Texas recovering from the flu.
— JT Ennis (@jt_ennis) October 11, 2026
Despite the controversy, public polling shows Talarico holds a slight lead over Paxton in Texas. Talarico posted on social media that he challenged Paxton to a debate 85 days ago. He claimed Paxton suffers from “clinical levels of cowardice” for refusing to meet.
Paxton’s campaign says they have been trying to schedule a debate for months. He claimed Talarico always wants details they cannot do. The two men remain locked in a tight race with the election approaching fast.
