This is going to give Paxton a boost.
The closely watched U.S. Senate race in Texas has taken another unexpected turn after Democratic candidate James Talarico temporarily stepped away from in-person campaigning because of the flu.
Talarico’s absence comes during a crucial stretch of the 2026 midterm campaign, with Republican nominee and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton now using the Democrat’s time away from public events as a new line of attack.
The development adds another layer to an increasingly competitive Senate contest in a state Republicans have dominated in statewide elections for years.
Talarico Reveals Flu Diagnosis
Talarico disclosed his illness while participating virtually in a U.S. Hispanic Business Council forum.
The Democratic candidate said he had initially planned to attend in person but began feeling sick several days earlier. When his symptoms became worse, he said he went to an urgent care facility in Dallas and was diagnosed with the flu.
Talarico explained that he was told he was highly contagious and decided against appearing at campaign events where he would come into close contact with voters.
He said his busy campaign schedule, including frequent handshakes and meetings with supporters, may have contributed to his illness.
The candidate also said he did not want to risk spreading the flu to vulnerable Texans, particularly elderly residents, babies or others who could face greater health risks.
His campaign says the break from in-person appearances is temporary.
Paxton Campaign Seizes on Talarico’s Absence
Paxton’s campaign wasted little time turning the situation into political ammunition.
Republican attack advertisements began highlighting how long Talarico had been away from the campaign trail, portraying his absence as notable with Election Day drawing closer.
One advertisement pointed to Talarico’s September 28 fundraising appearance in New York with actor Robert De Niro as his most recent in-person public event.
The ad asks voters whether they have seen Talarico before declaring that the Democrat had been “missing” from the campaign trail for 11 days.
The message is part of a broader effort by Paxton’s campaign to keep pressure on his Democratic opponent as both sides compete for undecided voters.
Talarico Campaign Fires Back
Talarico’s team rejected the criticism and said the candidate had maintained an extensive public schedule before becoming ill.
Campaign spokesperson J.T. Ennis said Talarico had participated in more than 100 public events and met tens of thousands of supporters before his flu diagnosis.
The campaign said he plans to return to the trail soon.
Ennis also responded by attacking Paxton’s own campaign priorities, arguing that the Republican attorney general has spent too much time focused on major donors and special interests.
That accusation is the Talarico campaign’s characterization of Paxton and has become part of the back-and-forth between the two campaigns.
The exchange shows how even a candidate’s temporary illness can become a political issue during the final weeks of a high-profile statewide race.
Major Texas Town Hall Is Next
Talarico is currently scheduled to participate in a CNN and Jubilee Media town hall in Texas on October 14.
Assuming he returns as planned, the event could provide voters with one of their next major opportunities to hear directly from the Democratic nominee.
The timing is significant because the Texas Senate race has become much more competitive than Republicans would traditionally expect in the Lone Star State.
Paxton won the Republican nomination after defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the GOP primary.
He now faces Talarico in the November 3 general election.
Polling Shows a Close Texas Senate Contest
Recent polling underscores why both campaigns are treating virtually every development as politically important.
As of October 7, Decision Desk HQ’s Texas Senate polling average showed Talarico receiving 48.4% support compared with 45.1% for Paxton — a difference of approximately 3.3 percentage points.
Individual polls have varied, and polling averages can move considerably during the closing weeks of a campaign. They represent a snapshot of public opinion rather than a guarantee of the final election result.
Still, the numbers demonstrate why the race is receiving national attention.
Texas has long been viewed as Republican territory, making a closely contested statewide Senate election particularly noteworthy.
Paxton Faces Political Challenges of His Own
Talarico’s illness is not the only issue generating headlines in the campaign.
Paxton has also faced renewed attention over controversies from his years in Texas politics.
In 2023, the Republican-controlled Texas House impeached Paxton on allegations that included corruption and abuse of office. The Texas Senate later acquitted him on the articles considered during his impeachment trial, allowing him to remain attorney general.
More recently, leaked recordings from a private fundraiser have created another political headache for the Republican candidate.
According to reporting on the audio, Paxton told donors and lobbyists that the war involving Iran, gasoline prices and diesel prices were weighing on his campaign.
“It’s not tariffs. … It’s the war, it’s gas prices, it’s diesel,” Paxton was recorded saying when discussing issues affecting the race.
Those remarks have given Democrats additional material to use against him, while Paxton’s campaign continues focusing attention on Talarico’s record and campaign activity.
Economy and Energy Prices Could Loom Large
Beyond the daily campaign attacks, Texas voters are weighing issues with a much more direct effect on their households.
Gasoline and diesel prices are particularly important in Texas, where driving distances can be significant and the energy industry remains a major part of the state’s economy.
Inflation, household expenses, immigration, border security, taxes and the overall direction of the country are also likely to remain prominent topics during the final stretch of the campaign.
Those broader concerns could ultimately matter far more to voters than the controversy surrounding a few missed campaign appearances.
Republicans Fight to Hold a Traditionally Red State
Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since the 1980s, which helps explain why this year’s contest has attracted so much attention.
Republicans continue to have deep political roots throughout the state, particularly among rural voters, conservatives and many suburban communities.
At the same time, Texas has experienced substantial population growth and demographic changes over the past several decades, creating increasingly expensive and competitive statewide campaigns.
The Paxton-Talarico contest is now unfolding against that changing political backdrop.
For Republicans, keeping the seat would preserve an important part of the party’s Senate coalition.
For Democrats, making Texas competitive offers an opportunity to challenge the GOP in a state that has historically been difficult terrain for the party.
Temporary Illness Becomes Campaign Flashpoint
Candidates getting sick during a long campaign is hardly unusual.
What makes Talarico’s case politically notable is the timing.
With Election Day approaching, every missed event, television appearance, advertisement and campaign statement can receive additional attention.
Paxton’s team is attempting to make Talarico’s absence part of the conversation, while Talarico’s campaign argues that the Democrat simply made a responsible decision to avoid spreading the flu.
Voters will ultimately decide whether the dispute matters.
What is clear is that neither campaign appears willing to surrender an opportunity to gain an advantage as the race enters its final weeks.
Texas Race Could Remain in the National Spotlight
The combination of competitive polling, Paxton’s long political history and Talarico’s effort to break the Republican Party’s statewide winning streak has made Texas one of the Senate races attracting attention beyond the state’s borders.
Talarico’s expected return to public campaigning will put the focus back on the candidates’ competing messages on the economy, immigration, energy, government spending and national policy.
For Texas voters, those issues are likely to become increasingly important as November 3 approaches.
For now, Talarico’s unexpected break from the campaign trail has provided Paxton with fresh material for his advertisements — and another reminder that in a close Senate campaign, even a case of the flu can quickly become part of the political battle.