Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico announced he is stepping away from in-person campaign events after contracting the flu. Talarico confirmed his diagnosis during a virtual appearance at a U.S. Hispanic Business Council forum, where he expressed frustration at being unable to attend in person.

Following the announcement, Republican opponent and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a series of new attack advertisements. These ads focus specifically on Talarico’s absence from the campaign trail. While the health diagnosis is a matter of public record, the two campaigns differ in their characterization of the situation. Talarico’s team frames the absence as a temporary, medically necessary pause, while Paxton’s campaign is utilizing the candidate's physical absence to question his availability and commitment to the race.

There is no dispute regarding the fact of the diagnosis, but the political fallout remains a point of friction. Paxton’s decision to immediately pivot to attack ads during a health-related absence has drawn attention to the aggressive nature of the ongoing Senate contest. As of now, Talarico has not provided a specific date for his return to the trail, though he continues to engage in virtual campaign activities.