Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D) on Wednesday pushed back against what he called “crazy” conspiracy theories that surfaced while he was off the campaign trail with the flu, revealing that one online rumor claimed he had died.
During a CNN town hall, anchor Erin Burnett pressed Talarico on whether the flu was the “only reason” he stepped back from campaigning. The Democrat laughed and confirmed it was, adding that his absence “sent my opponent [Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton] and his conspiracy theorists spiraling.”
“I opened up social media and learned that I apparently had dropped out of the race, had flown to a mental hospital in Ohio, that I had died,” Talarico said. “This is crazy. I mean, these false claims got millions of views online, and this is an example of what I call the rage economy.”
He argued that conspiracy theorists “can post anything they want on the internet. They get clicks. The billionaires who own these platforms get rich. We all get angry, and nobody’s life gets any better. Conspiracy theories don’t put food on the table.”
One of the baseless rumors was that Talarico had checked into a psychiatric facility in Ohio. Right-wing influencer Nick Sortor on Sunday accused the candidate’s flu diagnosis of being a “BIG FAT LIE.” Talarico’s spokesperson, J.T. Ennis, fired back on X, calling it “a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory.”
Late last month, Talarico said he felt “kind of under the weather” before learning he had the flu. He stayed at his Austin home and remotely joined a U.S. Hispanic Business Council forum on Sept. 30 to speak with voters.
His absence from the trail fueled attacks from Paxton and former President Trump. Trump wrote on Truth Social, “No one has seen him for an extended period of time. Where is he? What is wrong with him? Bad rumors are coming out.” He added that Talarico “should immediately report to a Debate Stage against Ken Paxton.”
Despite the pressure, Talarico has accepted at least four debate invitations from CNN and local TV stations, according to The Texas Tribune. He also challenged Paxton to a Fox News debate at the Texas Tribune Festival last month, and Burnett said CNN extended an invitation for Paxton to appear at Wednesday’s town hall.
The only scheduled debate for Texas statewide candidates remains the railroad commissioner race between Democrat Jon Rosenthal and Republican Bo French, though French has not publicly confirmed participation. Talarico’s campaign has continued at full steam since his recovery, and he has continued to press his case on border security and other issues. The CNN town hall went ahead without Paxton, highlighting the ongoing debate standoff in the race.
