Texas Senate Nominee James Talarico Resurfaces After Prolonged Absence

Texas Democratic U. S. Senate nominee James Talarico has ended days of speculation and criticism regarding his whereabouts after reappearing on the campaign trail. Talarico's campaign attributed his nearly two-week absence to a severe case of the flu. However, his prolonged pause drew sharp criticism from Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who questioned the duration of his illness. Talarico's campaign pushed back on the characterization of his absence, stating he attended a Zoom event on September 30, which they argue brings the total absence to nine days. The candidate's last public event was a September 26 news conference in Carrollton, and he had not been seen publicly in person at a campaign event since then. Talarico's campaign confirmed he expects to return to a full in-person schedule ahead of an October 14 CNN town hall.