Trump and Paxton criticize Talarico’s campaign absence

President Donald Trump and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton used a San Antonio rally on October 7 to criticize Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s absence from in-person campaigning, while Talarico’s campaign said he had the flu and would return to the trail that weekend. Trump also urged Talarico to debate Paxton; Talarico agreed, saying the decision was Paxton’s. Paxton led rallygoers in chanting, “Where is James Talarico?” and his campaign circulated an ad describing the candidate as missing from Texas. Trump echoed the criticism in a Truth Social post, questioning Talarico’s whereabouts and calling for a debate. The claim that Talarico was missing was political rhetoric about his campaign appearances, not evidence that his physical whereabouts were unknown. Talarico explained his absence during a virtual September 30 appearance at a U.S. Hispanic Business Council forum. He said he had been diagnosed with the flu at a Dallas urgent care the previous night and was staying away from events to avoid infecting others.