‘I just had the flu’: James Talarico shoots down conservative speculation about absence

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico returned to the campaign trail on Friday after a nearly two-week absence, citing a severe case of the flu. During his time away, which began in late September, Republican opponent Ken Paxton and former President Donald Trump criticized his absence and questioned his fitness for office. Specifically, conservative social media users circulated unverified claims that Talarico was seeking mental health treatment, which both Talarico and the facility mentioned have denied. The candidates are currently in a dispute over debates, with Talarico claiming Paxton has ignored requests for 85 days, while Paxton suggests the terms have been difficult to finalize and maintains that the primary issue is Talarico's recent absence.

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico returned to the campaign trail on Friday after a nearly two-week absence, citing a severe case of the flu. During his time away, which began in late September, Republican opponent Ken Paxton and former President Donald Trump criticized his absence and questioned his fitness for office. Specifically, conservative social media users circulated unverified claims that Talarico was seeking mental health treatment, which both Talarico and the facility mentioned have denied. The candidates are currently in a dispute over debates, with Talarico claiming Paxton has ignored requests for 85 days, while Paxton suggests the terms have been difficult to finalize and maintains that the primary issue is Talarico's recent absence.