Texas state representative James Talarico returned to the campaign trail on Friday after missing nearly two weeks of events. He told reporters he was sick in bed with a “nasty case of the flu” during that time. This explanation comes as GOP opponents demand answers for his sudden silence from the public.
Talarico was spotted at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on Friday after his absence. He also attended a Kacey Musgrove concert in Dallas on Saturday night, according to the Washington Examiner. He told the Dallas Morning News that he was bedridden at home due to the flu and noted he has Type 1 diabetes and took the break to ensure the sickness did not get worse.
State Attorney General Ken Paxton started a chant asking “Where is James Talarico?” at a rally. Paxton said that Talarico “owes Texans answers.” He later told Fox News he does not know whether to believe the flu story because Talarico has been “false since the beginning of this campaign.” At a Saturday night rally in Tennessee, President Donald Trump also mentioned the controversy.
I spoke with Rep. James Talarico earlier today in Dallas. I ask him about:
-getting the flu
-the claim he was getting treatment for a stress-induced episode
-a debate update
More tonight at 5 and 10 pm. https://t.co/uqhaXHcmtv
— Phil Prazan (@PhilPrazan) October 11, 2026
Talarico’s team pushed back against rumors that he was in a mental health facility. The Lindner Center of Hope in Ohio posted on social media that Talarico never received treatment there. Talarico’s campaign insists he was simply recovering from a viral illness at his home in Austin.
Some conservative influencers shared an audio recording claiming Talarico was discharged from a mental health center. The recording features an unnamed woman who said, “looks like he was just discharged this evening.” Talarico dismissed these claims in an interview with NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. He said, “The internet’s doing its thing,” and added, “That’s not true.”
Talarico explained his absence to NBC News by saying he did not want to get others sick. He last appeared in person on September 26 before speaking virtually on September 30. He told reporters he is now “feeling much better” and glad to be back on the trail.
Paxton had called for Talarico to show “proof of life” with a picture and a newspaper showing the date. Talarico addressed this by saying, “But it’s a good reminder that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.” He told MS Now that he had the flu and called it the craziest thing he’s ever heard. The candidate maintains he acted responsibly by staying home while ill.
