TL;DR
Get workout gear delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico paused in-person campaigning after he was diagnosed with the flu at a Dallas urgent care facility. At least two events were canceled, and his campaign has not said when he will return; he is scheduled for a CNN town hall on Oct. 14.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico has paused in-person campaign appearances after being diagnosed with the flu, canceling at least two events as the race approaches the start of early voting on Oct. 19. Talarico disclosed the diagnosis on Sept. 30 during a virtual forum, saying he had been diagnosed the previous night at an urgent care facility in Dallas.
Talarico, a state representative from Austin, had been scheduled to attend the Rio Grande Valley forum in person but joined virtually instead. He said he wanted to avoid exposing others to illness. “The best thing to do was to put safety first and put everyone’s health first,” he said at the United States Hispanic Business Council event, according to The Dallas Morning News.
His campaign acknowledged the break in events on Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to the newspaper. A Tuesday fundraiser in Austin and a Monday event focused on turning out Black voters in Central Texas were scrapped. The campaign has not announced a date for his return to active campaigning.
Campaign spokesperson JT Ennis said Talarico had held more than 100 public events and met tens of thousands of supporters before becoming ill. “James came down with the flu but will be back on the trail soon,” Ennis said in a statement to The Dallas Morning News. The statement did not give a timetable or additional details about his condition.
Campaign Schedule Meets Early Voting
The interruption comes at a consequential point in the campaign calendar: early voting begins Oct. 19, ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Canceled appearances mean Talarico has fewer scheduled opportunities, for now, to meet voters in person and make his case across Texas. The duration of the pause will affect how much time he has to resume public campaigning before voting starts.
The change also drew an immediate response from the opposing campaign. Republican nominee and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is Talarico’s opponent, and the candidates have traded criticism over their campaign activity. Those exchanges are campaign statements, not independent measures of either candidate’s schedule or voter support.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Senate Race and Recent Events
Talarico’s last reported public appearance before disclosing his diagnosis was a Sept. 28 New York fundraiser hosted by actor Robert De Niro. He had also attended a news conference in Carrollton on Sept. 26. The Dallas Morning News reported that Talarico was scheduled to attend the Hispanic Business Council event in the Rio Grande Valley in person before switching to a virtual appearance.
Ennis used the campaign update to criticize Paxton, saying he had avoided reporters and declined repeated offers to debate Talarico. Paxton’s campaign spokeswoman, Madison Cercy, countered that Talarico had time for a New York fundraiser but “can’t find time for Texans,” and accused him of relying on old rally footage and canceled events. Paxton has rejected earlier criticism of his own campaign schedule; in response to comments by former primary rival Sen. John Cornyn, he said he was spending about 18 hours a day campaigning, traveling and raising money, the report said.
“The best thing to do was to put safety first and put everyone’s health first.”
— James Talarico, speaking at the United States Hispanic Business Council virtual forum
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Return Date and Health Details
The campaign has not said when Talarico will resume in-person events, provided further details about his symptoms, or explained whether additional appearances will be canceled. Ennis said he would be back on the trail soon, but did not define that timing. The report identifies the flu diagnosis as Talarico’s disclosure; it does not provide independent medical confirmation.
It is also not clear whether his scheduled events beyond the two cancellations will proceed as planned. His campaign has not said whether the illness will affect his participation in the Oct. 14 CNN town hall.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Town Hall Before Early Voting
Talarico is scheduled to headline a CNN town hall on Oct. 14, five days before early voting begins in Texas. The campaign has not confirmed whether he will attend in person or whether the event’s plans have changed. Voters can expect further campaign updates about his schedule and any replacement appearances as that date approaches.
The next clear campaign milestone is the start of early voting on Oct. 19, followed by Election Day on Nov. 3. Whether Talarico returns to public events before voting opens remains unresolved.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
When did James Talarico disclose his flu diagnosis?
He disclosed it on Sept. 30 during a virtual United States Hispanic Business Council forum. He said he had been diagnosed the previous night at a Dallas urgent care facility.
Which campaign events were canceled?
The report says a Tuesday Austin fundraiser and a Monday event aimed at turning out Black voters in Central Texas were scrapped. It does not list other canceled events.
When is Talarico expected back on the campaign trail?
His spokesperson said he would be back “soon,” but the campaign has not announced a specific return date.
Is Talarico still scheduled for the CNN town hall?
He is scheduled to headline a CNN town hall on Oct. 14. The campaign has not said whether his flu diagnosis will affect his participation.
When do early voting and Election Day begin in Texas?
Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 19, ahead of the Nov. 3 election, according to the report.
Source: google-trends
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
