AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign released home security footage on Monday showing the candidate at his Austin residence, aiming to dispel conservative rumors that arose during his nearly two-week absence from the campaign trail.
The campaign shared eight timestamped SimpliSafe images spanning Oct. 1 to Oct. 8 with news organizations, including CBS News and The New York Times. According to CBS News, the low-resolution images show a brown-haired man in various outfits in the backyard of Talarico’s Austin home, which the outlet corroborated against recent satellite imagery of the property address.
Disputing Online Conspiracies
Talarico had not appeared in person since late September, explaining that he contracted severe influenza. The prolonged gap prompted sharp criticism from his Republican rival, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, as well as an array of unsupported claims across social media. Some right-wing figures alleged that the state representative had secretly checked into the Lindner Center of Hope, an Ohio mental health facility.
Both Talarico and the facility unequivocally dismissed the accusations. In a public social media statement, the Lindner Center of Hope stated that Talarico “has never received treatment” at its site. Responding to the claims, Talarico posted on social media that he had never visited Ohio.
Campaign spokesman J.T. Ennis condemned the rumors as “a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory,” according to CBS News. Ennis reiterated that Talarico spent the week at home in Austin recuperating from his illness.
Talarico told NBC affiliate KXAS of Dallas-Fort Worth that his time away was strictly medical. “It wasn’t anything worse than a nasty case of the flu,” Talarico said, explaining that he remained in bed, rested, drank liquids and completed remote work for his campaign to avoid infecting others.
Clashing on the Trail
Before his hiatus, Talarico attended New York City fundraisers on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. On Sept. 30, he participated virtually in a forum hosted by the United States Hispanic Business Council, informing participants that an urgent care facility in Dallas had diagnosed him with influenza. The campaign later stated to the New York Post that he had visited an urgent care clinic on Sept. 29 and consulted his primary care physician in Texas the following week.
During Talarico’s absence, Paxton and former President Donald Trump raised questions about his whereabouts at a San Antonio campaign rally. Paxton ridiculed the candidate and subsequently called on X for “proof of life,” questioning whether the flu could sideline someone for that duration.
Talarico reemerged in public on Friday, Oct. 9, greeting attendees at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Over the weekend, he traveled to Dallas and San Antonio, attending concerts and conducting media interviews while turning attention back toward Paxton.
“Ken Paxton has asked for proof of life for me. I’m asking for proof of spine from him,” Talarico told NBC affiliate KXAS, criticizing Paxton for not participating in debates.
What Comes Next
The campaign clash comes as early voting in the general election approaches, scheduled to run from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30 in Texas. While Talarico’s team maintains he has accepted invitations from various media organizations, no debates have been scheduled between the two candidates, leaving it uncertain whether the rivals will face off before voters cast ballots.
