Democratic state Rep. James Talarico secured the endorsement of country music legend Willie Nelson on Friday as his campaign prepared for his return to the Texas U.S. Senate trail following a 12-day illness, according to reports from NBC News and Rolling Stone.
Nelson, 93, endorsed the Democratic nominee in a brief campaign video, Rolling Stone reported. Talarico is seeking to unseat Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and become the first Democrat to win a statewide Texas election in more than 30 years.
“I’ve gotten to know James Talarico,” Nelson said in the video, according to Rolling Stone. “He’s a good man who will be a good senator for the state of Texas. Please vote, and vote for James Talarico.”
The musical icon previously supported Beto O’Rourke during his 2018 Senate bid against Sen. Ted Cruz and his 2022 bid against Gov. Greg Abbott. Cruz mocked the latest announcement, telling Rolling Stone that an endorsement from Nelson has historically marked the beginning of the end for Democratic contenders in Texas.
Illness Prompts Attacks From Paxton and Trump
The endorsement arrived as Talarico prepared to resume in-person appearances after a severe case of the flu sidelined him during a critical phase of the campaign, NBC News reported. Talarico’s last public in-person event in Texas took place on Sept. 26. After attending a private fundraiser in New York on Sept. 29, he sought treatment at a Dallas urgent care clinic the following evening.
Appearing virtually at an event for the Hispanic Business Council while coughing and blowing his nose, Talarico told participants he had developed a fever and was contagious after shaking countless hands across the state, according to NBC News.
The Republican side quickly seized on his absence. Paxton campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy issued a statement calling for “proof of life” and questioning whether Talarico had the stamina to represent 31 million Texans, NBC News reported.
Former President Donald Trump also criticized Talarico during a rally Wednesday in San Antonio, alleging the Democrat had vanished and demanding he immediately face Paxton in a debate, according to NBC News. Talarico responded on social media, writing that Paxton now had the responsibility to accept a debate.
Democrats Look Ahead to the Final Stretch
Democratic organizers and strategists expressed relief that Talarico appears ready to resume normal campaigning. Campaign spokesman JT Ennis told NBC News that Talarico will return to the trail this weekend after recovering from the virus.
Strategist Ed Espinoza downplayed concerns about the candidate losing ground, telling NBC News that Talarico remains prominent across the state due to approximately $80 million in active television and digital advertising. Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder acknowledged that Paxton gained brief respite from Talarico’s absence, but noted that the Democratic candidate is on the mend as the race reaches its conclusion.
Recent public polling shows Talarico maintaining narrow leads over Paxton in what is shaping up to be one of the closest Senate contests in the country, Rolling Stone reported. Whether the endorsement from Nelson and Talarico’s return to public stops will shift voter momentum in the final weeks before Election Day remains to be seen.
