You would think a simple case of the flu would stop the gossip machines. Yet here we are with a Texas Senate candidate claiming he was just sick, while his opponent demands a photo proof of life. The whole thing started when James Talarico vanished from the campaign trail for almost two weeks right before the big election.
He finally broke his silence on Sunday after people started asking serious questions. Talarico told the Dallas Morning News that he was “at home sick in bed with the flu.” He even mentioned he has Type 1 diabetes, which makes taking care of yourself a bit more tricky. He said he took a break so he would not get anyone else sick on the trail.
While Talarico was resting, the rumors started flying fast and furious. Some folks on the right started guessing he was having a mental health crisis. One influencer even claimed he was at a facility in Ohio called the Lindner Center of Hope. Talarico told NBC News that the internet is just “doing its thing” and people run with stories they see online.
🚨 BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Ohio mental hospital CONFIRMS James Talarico was discharged from the facility earlier this week
The “flu” thing was a BIG FAT LIE
Following reporting by @SaraGonzalesTX and @CarolineWren, a hospital employee told @RheinAmacher and I that Talarico had in fact been a patient at the Lindner Center of Hope near Cincinnati, Ohio, which specializes in around-the-clock mental health treatment.
While I sympathize with those dealing with mental health crises, this man is CLEARLY not suited to become a US Senator representing over 30 MILLION TEXANS.
The job doesn’t get easier after being elected — it only gets MORE stressful.
And Talarico clearly can’t handle it.
I pray he gets the help he needs, but Texans need a real representative they can rely on.
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 11, 2026
He called the whole mental health story a lie. The Daily Wire campaign spokesperson, JT Ennis, states the rumor is “a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory” The facility itself posted online that Talarico has never received treatment there. The audio recording that sparked the rumor had a woman saying he was discharged, but the center says that is false.
Not everyone is buying the flu story. His Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, spent last week arguing that Talarico is unfit for office. Paxton started a chant at a rally asking, “Where is James Talarico?” He told Fox News that he does not know whether to believe the flu story because Talarico has been false before.
I spoke with Rep. James Talarico earlier today in Dallas. I ask him about:
-getting the flu
-the claim he was getting treatment for a stress-induced episode
-a debate update
More tonight at 5 and 10 pm. https://t.co/uqhaXHcmtv
— Phil Prazan (@PhilPrazan) October 11, 2026
Paxton went so far as to ask for a picture of Talarico holding a newspaper with today’s date. He said the candidate “owes Texans answers” for his long absence. President Donald Trump also joined in, saying Talarico has the “longest” absence of anyone. It seems the pressure is really on to show he is actually okay.
Even some Democrats admitted to NBC News that his time away was not a good look in a tight race. Talarico said he was in bed drinking liquids and working from home when he could. He told MS Now that it is “crazy” that people just run with internet posts. He said he feels much better now and is glad to be back.
The real question is if voters will accept the explanation. Paxton asserts that Talarico will not confront his genuine record. The candidate says he just had the flu and wants people to know you cannot believe everything you read online. The election is close, and every day counts for both sides.
