Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico returns to campaign trail after nearly two-week absence attributed to flu

James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, was absent from the campaign trail from approximately September 26 to October 9, 2026, citing a flu diagnosis. His Republican opponent Ken Paxton and conservative media figures questioned the absence, while a false claim circulated on X that Talarico had been committed to the Lindner Center of Hope, a mental health facility in Mason, Ohio, a claim the facility denied. Talarico's campaign released security camera footage appearing to show him at his Austin home during the absence.