Trump's 'TalaFREAKo' debate taunt backfires as it exposes Paxton's OWN refusal to face Talarico on stage

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

President Trump's mockery of flu-stricken Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has handed the Democrat an unexpected weapon: Trump himself demanded a debate, spotlighting Republican incumbent Ken Paxton's refusal to accept any debate invitation. Talarico, absent from the campaign trail since late September, fired back on X: 'President Trump just said Ken Paxton should debate. I agree. Ball's in your court.' Talarico's campaign says he will return this weekend ahead of a CNN town hall on 14 October.

Paxton led a San Antonio rally crowd in a 'Where is James Talarico?' chant even as he himself has publicly accepted zero debate invitations.

Leaked Slack messages from Talarico's 4,000-strong influencer network show supporters privately worried he is 'losing momentum' despite expecting a 'comeback' at the CNN town hall.

Texas's Senate race could decide control of the upper chamber, with Talarico holding a narrow polling lead in a state Democrats have not won statewide in 32 years.