After nearly two weeks away from in-person campaigning because of an illness, Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico was spotted Saturday night at a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas, where video showed him enjoying the performance and meeting the Grammy-winning singer.
The appearance at American Airlines Center came a day after Talarico returned to public campaigning Friday at Austin City Limits Music Festival. He disclosed Sept. 30 that he had been diagnosed with the flu after visiting a Dallas urgent care clinic. His last in-person campaign event before the illness was a Sept. 28 fundraiser in New York with actor Robert De Niro.
Talarico has previously named Musgraves’ “Merry Go ’Round” as a favorite song.
His absence drew criticism from Republican opponent Ken Paxton, who posted mock missing-person notices on X and questioned his illness.
“Who actually believes that?” Paxton wrote Saturday, referring to Talarico’s flu diagnosis. He called Talarico’s festival attendence a “staged 15-minute appearance” and demanded answers. In another post, Paxton questioned Talarico’s attendance at the De Niro fundraiser and characterized his time away as “two weeks of PTO.”
Talarico responded Saturday by renewing his challenge to debate Paxton, mocking him with a reference to “clinical levels of cowardice” and demanding “proof of ability to debate.”
Talarico previously challenged Paxton to a debate moderated by Fox News’ Bret Baier, saying he was “willing to go anywhere to make that a reality.” Fox News agreed to host if both candidates participated.
Paxton’s campaign said in July that he would debate Talarico but has not agreed to an event. Paxton did not debate U.S. Sen. John Cornyn during this year’s Republican primary.
Every Texas U.S. Senate general election since 2002 has featured a debate, but none is scheduled before the Nov. 3 election.
Talarico is scheduled to meet with The Dallas Morning News editorial board Sunday for a candidate interview.