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President Donald Trump put James Talarico’s campaign absence in the spotlight Wednesday, calling the Texas Democratic Senate nominee “missing” and demanding he face Republican Ken Paxton on a debate stage.
The president took the fight to Truth Social after stumping for Paxton in San Antonio, where the Texas attorney general accused Talarico of going 11 days without a campaign appearance.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, upon information and belief, James TalaFREAKo, who is running for the United States Senate in Texas, is MISSING IN ACTION!” Trump posted. “No one has seen him for an extended period of time. Where is he? What is wrong with him? Bad rumors are coming out.”
Paxton had delivered a similar attack at the rally, leading attendees in a chant of “Where is Talarico?”
Talarico announced Sept. 30 that he had been diagnosed with the flu. He last appeared at a Sept. 28 fundraiser in New York with actor Robert De Niro.
The Democratic state senator addressed his illness during a virtual appearance at a U.S. Hispanic Business Council forum, saying he wanted to avoid infecting others.
“I guess I’ve been shaking too many hands on the campaign trail and so I want to keep everybody safe,” Talarico said. “If I was passing on this illness to somebody and got someone’s grandmother or someone’s baby sick, I couldn’t live with myself, so I thought the best thing to do was to put safety first and put everyone’s health first.”
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A campaign spokesperson told several outlets that Talarico expects to return to the campaign trail this weekend.
Trump also pressed Talarico to “immediately report to a Debate Stage” against Paxton, whom he described as “ready, willing, and able” and “one of the best Attorney Generals in the Country.”
Talarico responded Thursday morning by challenging Paxton to commit.
“President Trump just said Ken Paxton should debate,” Talarico wrote on X. “I agree. Ball’s in your court @KenPaxtonTX.”
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Talarico has accepted at least four debate invitations from CNN and local television stations. He also challenged Paxton to a Fox News forum, which the network subsequently agreed to host.
Paxton has yet to confirm his participation. His senior adviser, Nick Maddux, told The Texas Tribune in July that “of course” the Republican would debate Talarico.
Without a debate, the contest could become the first Texas Senate race in a quarter-century without one.
Talarico is scheduled to appear at a CNN and Jubilee Media town hall in Texas on Oct. 14, with weeks remaining before the midterm elections.
Recent polls have shown Talarico with a slight lead over Paxton or tied with him. Democrats last held a U.S. Senate seat in Texas in 1993.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
