Paxton Camp Asks Talarico to Show He’s Active Amid Flu Absence
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign is pressing Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico to prove he is still active after 12 days without in-person events. Talarico’s campaign says he has the flu and will return to the trail this weekend. Paxton’s spokeswoman asked for a photo of Talarico with a current newspaper, while supporters of Talarico noted past silence when other officials were absent.
Paxton, Texas’s Republican attorney general, is running against Talarico, a Democratic state representative seeking a U.S. Senate seat. Talarico has not appeared at in-person campaign events in Texas for 12 days; his team attributes the gap to influenza and says he will resume campaigning this weekend.
Paxton’s spokeswoman, Madison Cercy, requested a dated-newspaper photo as evidence Talarico is active. Other coverage mentioned requests for video, New York City flight details, and a doctor’s note. Talarico backers pointed to Mitch McConnell’s three-month absence, arguing the outrage was inconsistent.
This episode may shape how Texas voters assess candidates’ transparency and stamina during the campaign’s final stretch. It could intensify partisan media cycles, with supporters of each side using the absence to question credibility or fairness. Voters seeking reliable information may face more noise, while candidates could feel pressure to document their health and whereabouts publicly. The effect likely remains limited unless the absence continues or becomes a broader referendum issue.