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James Talarico paused in-person campaigning after saying he was diagnosed with the flu at a Dallas urgent care facility on Sept. 29. At least two events were canceled, and his campaign has not announced a return date as early voting approaches.
James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, has paused in-person campaigning after being diagnosed with the flu, his campaign said, with at least two events canceled as early voting approaches. Talarico disclosed the diagnosis at a virtual forum on Sept. 30, saying he had been diagnosed the previous night at a Dallas urgent care facility.
Talarico had been scheduled to attend the United States Hispanic Business Council forum in the Rio Grande Valley in person. He joined virtually instead and said he wanted to avoid exposing others while ill. The campaign confirmed the interruption in events on Tuesday, Oct. 6, but did not specify when he would resume campaigning.
The canceled events include an Austin fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday and a Monday event focused on turning out Black voters in Central Texas. Talarico’s last public appearance before disclosing the illness was Sept. 28 in New York, where he attended a fundraiser hosted by actor Robert De Niro, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Campaign spokesperson JT Ennis said Talarico had held more than 100 public events and met tens of thousands of supporters before coming down with the flu. The campaign said he would be back on the trail soon, but provided no date. Talarico is a state representative from Austin and faces Republican nominee Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general.
Campaign Pause Before Early Voting
The illness interrupts Talarico’s public schedule less than two weeks before early voting is due to begin Oct. 19, ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The canceled Central Texas event was specifically intended to encourage Black voters to turn out, while the Austin fundraiser was an opportunity to meet supporters and raise campaign funds.
The immediate effect is a gap in planned in-person campaigning; the source report does not establish how much the cancellations will affect the campaign or voter participation. The timing also puts attention on how both campaigns use the remaining weeks before voting begins. Talarico’s return date, and whether other events will be rescheduled, have not been announced.
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The Candidates’ Campaign Schedules
Talarico’s campaign used the announcement to contrast his schedule with Paxton’s, saying Talarico had held more than 100 public events and arguing that Paxton had avoided public engagement and debate offers. Those are claims from the Talarico campaign, not independently established assessments in the report.
Paxton’s campaign responded by criticizing Talarico for attending the New York fundraiser while canceling Texas events. Paxton previously rejected criticism of his own campaigning, saying he spent about 18 hours a day campaigning, traveling around Texas and raising money. His former primary rival, Sen. John Cornyn, had called him a “poor campaigner” and “lazy” in August, according to the report. The exchange reflects an ongoing campaign dispute over which candidate is more engaged with voters, rather than a verified measure of either candidate’s schedule.
““I guess I’ve been shaking too many hands on the campaign trail, and so I want to keep everybody safe. The best thing to do was to put safety first and put everyone’s health first.””
— James Talarico, speaking at the virtual United States Hispanic Business Council forum
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Return Date and Rescheduled Events
The campaign has not said when Talarico will return to in-person events, whether he will reschedule the Austin fundraiser or Central Texas voter turnout event, or whether additional appearances will be canceled. The report does not provide details about the severity of his illness or a medical estimate for recovery.
Talarico is scheduled to headline a CNN town hall on Oct. 14, five days before early voting is set to start. The campaign has not said whether that appearance will go ahead as planned. The source report also does not specify whether the diagnosis was confirmed by a test or provide further medical information.
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Next Scheduled Campaign Milestones
The next stated milestone is Talarico’s scheduled CNN town hall on Oct. 14. Whether he appears will depend on his recovery and any campaign update; no change to the event was reported as of Oct. 6. Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 19, followed by Election Day on Nov. 3.
The campaign’s next public update should clarify whether Talarico is returning to the trail, whether canceled events will be rescheduled and whether his town hall plans have changed. Until then, the confirmed developments are the flu diagnosis disclosure, the canceled appearances and the absence of a specific return date.
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Key Questions
When did James Talarico disclose his flu diagnosis?
Talarico disclosed it on Sept. 30 during a virtual United States Hispanic Business Council forum. He said he had been diagnosed the night before at a Dallas urgent care facility.
Which campaign events have been canceled?
The report says an Austin fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday and a Monday event aimed at turning out Black voters in Central Texas were scrapped. It does not say whether either will be rescheduled.
When will Talarico return to campaigning?
His spokesperson said he would be back on the trail soon, but the campaign did not give a specific return date.
Is Talarico’s CNN town hall still scheduled?
Talarico was scheduled to headline a CNN town hall on Oct. 14. The campaign had not said by Oct. 6 whether the appearance would proceed as planned.
When does early voting begin in the Texas Senate election?
Early voting is scheduled to start Oct. 19, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
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