Republicans give Talarico the McConnell treatment and request
Republicans are demanding Texas Democratic Senate Nominee James Talarico provide “proof of life” after not appearing on the campaign trail since his…
Zach Kraft didn’t have to resort to “James Talafreako” to make the point, but it helps. Texas Democrats picked a loud, progressive seminary student to run against a sitting Republican senator, and now he’s gone quiet. His campaign says he has the flu.
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Republicans are demanding Texas Democratic Senate Nominee James Talarico provide “proof of life” after not appearing on the campaign trail since his campaign said he tested positive for the flu.
“James Talafreako’s handlers need to stop the lies and release proof of life,” said Zach Kraft, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee. “We’re worried about the little guy.”
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Talarico’s opponent in the Senate race, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has grilled the Democrat about his disappearance on social media in recent days. Paxton’s campaign on Thursday echoed the calls for “proof of life,” including a video of Talarico “holding a newspaper dated today,” a doctor’s note, or “the flight he took home” from his New York fundraisers, which occurred on the very same night he allegedly went to an urgent care in Dallas.”
“James Talarico wants to represent 31 million Texans in the U.S. Senate, but for 12 days he’s hidden from everyone one of them,” said Madison Cercy, a spokeswoman for the Paxton campaign. “If James Talarico is too fragile to face Texans, he has no business asking for their vote.”
Paxton’s campaign has also posted photos of missing posters that have popped up across Texas, including outside Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in College Station.
Talarico has reportedly canceled two campaign events since he appeared via video call on Sept. 30 at the Hispanic Business Council. During the video call, Talarico disclosed that he’d been diagnosed with the flu.
“I was starting to feel kind of under the weather a few days ago, and and last night it got so bad that I went to the urgent care here in Dallas, and and I was diagnosed with the flu, and so I’m running a fever, and and I’m my most contagious right now, and and I guess I’ve been shaking too many hands on the campaign trail,” Talarico said as he apologized for missing the event in person.
The GOP’s “proof of life” call comes after Democrats have invoked a similar message against Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) earlier this year. The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican suffered a fall and was not seen in public for months while recuperating.
Unlike McConnell’s long convalescence, Talarico’s campaign has maintained that he will be back on the campaign trail this weekend.
“After holding more than 100 public events and shaking tens of thousands of hands, James came down with the flu but will be back on the trail this weekend,” Talarico spokesperson JT Ennis said in a statement. “Ken Paxton has been ignoring Texans this entire campaign, and his priorities are clear: he doesn’t answer to the people of this state — he answers to his billionaire megadonors and special interests.”
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
Zach Kraft didn’t have to resort to “James Talafreako” to make the point, but it helps. Texas Democrats picked a loud, progressive seminary student to run against a sitting Republican senator, and now he’s gone quiet. His campaign says he has the flu. The RNC says prove it. In a state this big, with a race this visible, a candidate can’t just vanish and expect the benefit of the doubt.
Maybe Talarico really is sick. Flu season is no joke, and plenty of people are laid up right now. But here’s the thing: if he’s well enough to have a campaign statement issued, he’s well enough to point a phone at his own face. One grainy video would settle this. Instead, his team is playing the mystery card and acting surprised that Republicans call it out. In politics, vague health claims don’t fly.
This is the McConnell treatment in a new form. When Mitch McConnell froze up in front of cameras, he was back in public soon enough to answer questions. He didn’t get to hide behind a press release. Same standard should apply to a Senate nominee. Either show up and convince Texans you can handle the job, or admit the campaign is in trouble. A quick selfie would end this entire story.
That’s the real issue. Talarico’s handlers are treating voters like they’re too stupid to notice he’s missing. Republicans are right to keep the pressure on. If the Democrats’ big Texas hope can’t even handle a week of flu coverage, what’s he going to do when the national spotlight turns on him? Run your campaign or get out of the way..
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.