James Talarico Flu Absence Draws Attacks

What happened

Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico stayed away from in-person campaign events in Texas for 12 days, leaving his last public appearance in the state on September 26. The absence landed in the final stretch of a race Democrats see as a rare chance to capture a Senate seat in Texas. Talarico said he was diagnosed with the flu after urgent care in Dallas and was avoiding crowds so he would not infect others. His campaign said he got sick after more than 100 public events and expected him back that weekend. Ken Paxton, his campaign and President Donald Trump questioned the explanation. Talarico had not yet resumed in-person events.

How each side covered it

From the left

Left-leaning outlets framed the absence as a Republican attack line against a sick candidate, with less focus on suspicion about the diagnosis. CNN said Republicans opened a new line of attack, while citing Talarico’s team’s account that illness followed heavy campaigning. Raw Story cast the episode as an unexpected setback for Democrats in a high-stakes Senate race.

From the right

Right-leaning outlets framed the absence as a reason to doubt Talarico’s account, while stressing the political chance it gave Republicans. RedState said the flu excuse was not adding up, making the absence look suspicious. The Blaze emphasized Paxton’s pressure and Trump’s mocking response in the race’s closing weeks. PJ Media argued Democrats were hiding candidates whose public comments hurt them.

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James Talarico Flu Absence Draws Attacks

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What happened

How each side covered it

From the left

From the right

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