# Talarico returns after flu absence

> James Talarico makes first public appearance since flu illness after Texas Senate campaign break.
- Title: Talarico returns after flu absence · The Texas Tribune
- Summary: James Talarico makes first public appearance since flu illness after Texas Senate campaign break. James Talarico returned to the campaign trail after a…
- Keywords: james talarico, ken paxton, texas senate, democratic candidate, flu, campaign trail, austin city limits, news, local, Talarico, returns, absence
- Source: The Texas Tribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17493121/james-talarico-returns-to-campaign-trail-flu-austin-city-limits-senate
- Author: Kayla Guo, Alejandro Serrano
- Published: 2026-10-09T21:46:54+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: james talarico, ken paxton, texas senate, democratic candidate, flu, campaign trail, austin city limits, news, local
## Talarico returns after flu absence
James Talarico made his first public appearance since a nine-day flu illness after a campaign break.
## Flu diagnosis and recovery
Talarico revealed he had been diagnosed with the flu before stepping off the campaign trail near the start of last week.
## Campaign activity
Talarico last appeared in person at a Sept. 28 fundraiser in New York with Robert De Niro before his flu diagnosis.
## Talarico's health condition
Talarico has Type I diabetes, a condition he received during his 2018 Texas House campaign.
## Health risks and response
People with diabetes have higher risk for serious flu complications, prompting Talarico to seek urgent care in Dallas.
## Trump's criticism
Trump accused Talarico of being a vegan who gets sick after eating meat, claiming he is "missing in action."
## Campaign response
Talarico's campaign confirmed he is recovering and plans to return to the campaign trail this weekend.
## Key takeaway

James Talarico returned to the campaign trail after a nine-day flu absence, with his campaign confirming he is recovering and planning to resume activities this weekend.