Talarico makes first appearance in 13-days at music festival after flu absence

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D) made his first appearance in nearly two weeks on Friday after his campaign said he was recovering from a bout of the flu.

The Democratic nominee was seen strolling around Austin City Limits (ACL) — the annual music festival in Texas’s capital city. Videos shared on social media show the candidate stopping to shake hands and take pictures with festival attendees in Zilker Park.

Talarico told a New York Times reporter at the Friday event he had been sick with a “nasty case of the flu” and had been “home in bed.” The candidate added he had more appearances planned for this weekend in Dallas.

His reemergence comes as both his GOP opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and President Trump have doubted Talarico’s flu diagnosis and called for the Democrat to return to the campaign trail less than a month out from November’s elections.

JT Ennis, a spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign, reposted a video of Talarico meeting with supporters at the festival on social media.

“Hate to disappoint the conspiracy theorists, but James is still alive and meeting with voters at ACL today,” Ennis wrote.

Talarico, a state lawmaker, holds a tight lead over Paxton in the Lone Star State’s closely watched Senate race this November.

Paxton responded on social media to a video of Talarico at ACL, saying his opponent “doesn’t get to reappear like nothing happened after ghosting the 31 million Texans he wants to represent for two weeks.”

“The ‘flu’ didn’t stop him from meeting with New York billionaires and Hollywood elites, or from partying with celebrities at a music festival most working Texans don’t have the luxury of attending, especially after taking two weeks off work,” he continued. “Must be nice after two weeks of PTO.”

Trump, who has endorsed Paxton and campaigned alongside him in Texas, criticized Talarico’s absence from the campaign trail in a Wednesday evening Truth Social post.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, upon information and belief, James TalaFREAKo, who is running for the United States Senate in Texas, is MISSING IN ACTION!” Trump wrote, using his nickname for the Democratic candidate. “He should immediately report to a Debate Stage against Ken Paxton, who is ready, willing, and able.”

Talarico has already agreed to several debates and called on his Republican opponent to do the same.

“President Trump just said Ken Paxton should debate. I agree,” he wrote on social media Thursday, adding, “Ball’s in your court @KenPaxtonTX.”

The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, rates the open race to replace retiring Sen. John Cornyn (R) as a “toss up.” The Democrat has maintained a narrow lead over his Republican opponent, posting a 6-point lead within the margin of error in a recent poll from New York Times and Siena University.