Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico is back on the campaign trail after a bout of flu, spending the weekend at public events and pushing back on rumors about his health.

"I had the flu. This is the craziest thing I've ever heard," Talarico told MS NOW on Sunday. He said he worked from home and met with his campaign team on Zoom while he recovered.

On Sept. 30, Talarico appeared by video at a business forum instead of attending in person and said he had the flu and had gone to an urgent care clinic in Dallas. He reappeared Friday at the Austin City Limits music festival. On Saturday he sat in the front row of a Kacey Musgraves concert in Dallas.

Republicans made his absence a campaign issue. At a Trump rally in San Antonio, Republican nominee Ken Paxton started a "Where is James Talarico" chant. Paxton's campaign demanded "proof of life," and President Donald Trump called Talarico "MISSING IN ACTION." An unproven claim that he was being treated for stress also spread online. "That's not true," Talarico told NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth.

Paxton kept up the pressure Sunday. "I don't know whether to believe him about the flu or not," he told Fox News.

Talarico turned the focus to debates, noting that he has accepted four debate invitations while Paxton has accepted none, according to the Texas Tribune. "He has asked for proof of life from me, I'm asking for proof of spine from him," Talarico joked.

The outlets disagree on how long he was gone: Fox News calls it a nearly two-week absence. The Texas Tribune counts nine days between public appearances.

Talarico headlines a CNN and Jubilee Media town hall in Fort Worth on Wednesday, Oct. 14. Paxton was also invited.

What we know: Talarico had the flu, returned to public events Friday, and has a town hall set for Wednesday.
What we don't: Whether Paxton will agree to any debate or the town hall before early voting starts.