Talarico sidelined by flu as Paxton faces fresh leaked audio in Texas Senate race
With four weeks until Election Day, the Democratic nominee cancels campaign events while his Republican rival battles damaging recordings from fundraisers.
What to know
- Talarico has canceled at least two campaign events and stepped off the trail with four weeks until Election Day after contracting the flu, limiting his visibility in the race.
- Paxton is attacking Talarico's absence through ad blitzes while simultaneously managing fallout from three leaked recordings from closed-door fundraisers revealing campaign concerns about the Iran war and federal factors beyond his control.
- Recent polling shows Paxton narrowly trailing Talarico in what is shaping up as one of the nation's most competitive Senate races.
- Trump is campaigning for Paxton in Texas, though he has publicly acknowledged the candidate carries vulnerabilities heading into the final month of the race.
“So many factors in this federal race are uncontrollable. I don't make the decisions, and I don't … know what's behind some of the decisions”
Ken Paxton, Republican Senate candidate · Washington Examiner ↗ · Oct 6
James Talarico Democratic Senate nominee for Texas
Ken Paxton Republican Texas Attorney General, Senate candidate
Donald Trump Former U.S. President, Trump endorserMadison Cercy Paxton campaign spokeswoman
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
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Trump campaigns for Paxton in Texas
Trump is scheduled to travel to Texas on Wednesday to campaign for Paxton. Trump endorsed Paxton in the primary and remains supportive of his candidacy, though he has acknowledged some of Paxton's vulnerabilities.
“He's a little controversial, just slightly…”
— Donald Trump -
10 outlets first by ABC News, 5d ago · also Breitbart, Bloomberg, NYT, Washington Examiner, Hindustan Times, Fox News +3 · read ↗
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first by The Daily Wire, 1d ago · also Baltimore Sun, Mercury News, Orlando Sentinel, Philadelphia Inquirer, AP News, Associated Press +2
3 more headlines
- FACT FOCUS: Posts falsely claim Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was at a mental facility Baltimore Sun · 1d ago
- Rumor falsely claims James Talarico was treated at Ohio mental health facility. Here are the facts Snopes · 1d ago
- Fact Check: Posts Falsely Claim Senate Candidate Talarico Was at a Mental Facility MedPage Today · 16h ago
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U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico did not have the flu. An Ohio mental hospital confirms he was voluntarily committed for a mental health crisis. A candidate struggling with mental illness, who lies to the American people, is not fit to be Senator.
2 more of the top 3 · 21 posts in this stretch
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The White House called Ossoff as a "cuck" and "theater kid" but its hard to make the message stick when he looks completely dominant over his GOP opponent. Similarly, portraying Talarico as effete undermined by Paxton dodging a debate as if it was a subpoena.
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"FACT FOCUS: Posts Falsely Claim Democratic Candidate James Talarico Was at a Mental Facility Republican officials and conservative social media users are spreading unfounded rumors that state Rep. James Talarico, Democratic nominee in a competitive Texas Senate race, was treated in an Ohio mental health facility" # Politics # News # USA #…
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Paxton campaign responds to leaked audio with talking points
Paxton campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy responded to the leaked recordings, saying the Attorney General expressed what Texans already know: gas and diesel prices are too high, and noting Trump is working to bring them down while Paxton plans to help via tax credits and deductions.
“The Attorney General said what every Texan already knows: gas and diesel prices are too high, and hardworking Texans are struggling at the pump and at the grocery store…”
— Madison Cercy -
1 outlet first by Washington Examiner, 6d ago · read ↗
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background
Two additional Paxton recordings surface describing campaign challenges — Two more leaked recordings of Paxton emerged this week. In one, he blamed Republican leadership in Washington for controlling his Senate campaign. In another, he called President Donald Trump 'a little bit of a drag' and said the Republican National Committee's midterm convention did his campaign no favors.
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Axios reports new leaked audio of Paxton on Iran war and campaign struggles — Axios on Wednesday reported a leaked recording from a closed-door fundraiser in which Paxton said the Iran war is one of the issues 'dragging' his campaign. He noted the war has caused prices to increase for voters and said he is working on legislation to help, including a tax plan with medical expense deductions and a child tax credit.
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Paxton launches attack ad questioning Talarico's whereabouts — In response to Talarico's absence, Paxton released an attack ad asking 'Where is James Talarico?' that detailed his event cancellations and noted his campaign is recycling videos from past events on social media.
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Talarico cancels two campaign events in Texas — With early voting beginning in 10 days and the general election less than a month away, Talarico canceled at least two campaign events in Texas this week, including a fundraiser intended to turn out black voters in Austin.
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Talarico discloses flu diagnosis, attends forum virtually — Talarico revealed his illness at a U.S. Hispanic Business Council forum in the Rio Grande Valley, which he joined virtually instead of attending in person. He attributed his illness to the campaign trail, saying he had been shaking many hands.
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Talarico appears at De Niro-hosted event in New York — James Talarico was last seen at an event in New York hosted by actor Robert De Niro on Sept. 28 before contracting the flu.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by CNN, 2d ago · also NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, Scripps News, KTVZ-TV
2 more headlines
- Talarico returns to campaign trail after flu, challenges Paxton to debate NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · 1d ago
- ‘I had the flu’: Talarico returns to campaign trail, dismisses online rumors Scripps News · 1d ago
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first by Washington Times, 5d ago · also National Politics, American Greatness, Townhall
3 more headlines
- Ken Paxton Chides James Talarico Over 11-Day Absence From Campaign Trail Because of Flu National Politics · 5d ago
- ‘Full-Blown Mental Tala-Freak-Out’: Rumors Swirl Amid James Talarico's 12-Day Absence From Campaign Trail American Greatness · 5d ago
- Why Ken Paxton's Campaign Is Requesting Proof of Life for James Talarico Townhall · 5d ago
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first by Washington Post, 5d ago · also Fox Business, Washington Examiner, The Washington Post
2 more headlines
- Trump rallies in Texas as Senate race tightens between Ken Paxton and James Talarico Fox Business · 5d ago
- Ken Paxton touts ‘missing Talarico’ flyers across Texas Washington Examiner · 5d ago
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3 outlets Where in the World Is James Talarico?
first by RedState, 5d ago · also Sydney Morning Herald, Texas Tribune
2 more headlines
- James Talarico leaves message on Ken Paxton's phone Sydney Morning Herald · 1d ago
- How Ken Paxton and allies fanned a false conspiracy to convince voters James Talarico was mentally unfit Texas Tribune · 5h ago
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first by The Gateway Pundit, 1d ago · also Townhall, Daily Wire
2 more headlines
- Confirmed: James Talarico Was at a Mental Health Facility in Ohio Townhall · 1d ago
- Campaign Denies Claim That James Talarico's ‘Flu’ Was Mental Health Crisis The Daily Wire · 1d ago
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first by NY Post, 1d ago · also Straits Times, New York Post
1 more headline
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first by Forbes Business, 1d ago · also Mediaite, Forbes
1 more headline
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3 outlets Trump tears into ‘Missing In Action’ James Talarico after Texas candidate diagnosed with flu
first by The Independent, 5d ago · also One America News Network, Independent UK
1 more headline
- ‘MISSING IN ACTION’: Trump questions Talarico's whereabouts after Dem. Senate candidate announces illness One America News Network · 5d ago
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first by NBC News, 4d ago · also Yahoo
2 more headlines
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first by Mastodon, 1d ago · also NYT
and 18 smaller pieces
What people are saying 18 voices from 4 sites · best of 21 · verbatim
- Yesterday
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Call it what it is: a lie. Republicans Promoted a False Rumor That James Talarico Was in Ohio https://www. nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/poli tics/james-talarico-ohio-texas-senate-race.html?smid=tw-share
- Oct 12
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Trump & Republicans just spread LIES 🤬‼️👉🏻“ CLAIM: Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was being treated in an Ohio mental health facility last week. THE FACTS: This is false. The facility where he was said to have been treated has denied he was ever a patient there. “ https:// apnews.com/article/fact-check-…
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico is back on the campaign trail after being sidelined for nine days with the flu. https://www. houstonpublicmedia.org/article s/news/politics/election-2026/2026/10/12/564154/talarico-returns-to-campaign-trail-renewing-call-for-debate-with-paxton/
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I think it’s a combo of being terrified of Talarico and awareness that Paxton fucking sucks even by republican standards. Trump has directly involved himself in this race too which is saddling more shit in Republicans.
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🚨🇺🇸 Democrat James Talarico, who's in a tight race for U.S. Senate in Texas, was asked about claims he spent the past week in a mental health facility: “That's not true. Uh, I just had the flu and I feel much better…” ARE YOU GUYS BUYING THIS?? Writer: Michael
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The Democratic Senate candidate from Texas said he was recovering from the flu, while an Ohio mental health facility rejected claims that he had received treatment there.
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What We Know About A Claim That A Recording Proves Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Was Treated At Ohio Mental Health Facility https:// leadstories.com/hoax-alert/202 6/10/what-we-know-about-claim-recording-proves-texas-senate-candidate-james-talarico-treated-ohio-mental-health-facility.html
- Oct 11
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🇺🇸 A new controversy has erupted around James Talarico's nearly 2 week absence from the Texas Senate campaign trail. Released audio of a call purportedly involving an employee at an Ohio mental health facility appears to suggest someone named James Talarico had recently been
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It's not about the sane people who read the articles. It's about flooding the news feed with headlines that a lot of people won't read or get deep into, so that after some time an average person just sees some headlines saying one side, and the other and them being same headlines.
- Oct 10
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# Talarico has been out with the flu for almost two weeks. He's back. Normal stuff. It's been hilarious to see Republicans attacking him for this, because they immediately get pummeled for saying nothing about Mitch McConnell or indeed Trump going missing due to obvious ill health/near death experiences. https:// thehill.com/homenews/campaign/…
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James Talarico returns to Texas Senate campaign trail after absence https://www. usatoday.com/story/news/politi cs/elections/2026/10/10/texas-senate-dem-candidate-is-back-on-campaign-trail-after-flu/92189402007/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into OnPolitics @ onpolitics-USAToday
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James Talarico appears at Austin City Limits, nine days after he was last seen publicly on campaign trail https://www. cbsnews.com/texas/news/james-t alarico-flu-austin-city-limits-texas-senate-campaign-october-2026/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into The Senate @ the-senate-ElectionCentral
- Oct 9
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Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has been off the campaign trail for 13 days while reportedly battling the flu, per NBC. Talarico hasn’t appeared at an in-person event in Texas since September 26.
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James Talarico’s Absence From the Trail Rattles the Texas Senate Race https://www. nytimes.com/2026/10/09/us/jame s-talarico-absence-texas-senate.html?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into News @ news-thenewsdesk
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“Hey Ken, it’s James. Texans start voting in less than a month and they deserve to hear from both of us before they do.So, if Fox News is where you’ll be most comfortable, I’ll be there.” - James Talarico 💙🌊🍿
- Oct 8
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Matters for democrats. Doesn't matter for Republicans. See: "they're eating the cats, they're eating the dogs"
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Trump's just gaslighting his followers into believing Paxton wants to debate, and it's Talarico who's dodging. That's all.
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#TexasSenate NBC News: James Talarico’s absence from the campaign trail is causing some consternation among Democrats “He’s like, really sick. Believe me, we don’t want this right now,” a Texas Democrat involved in the Talarico race said. “We’d rather have him on the trail.”