Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Endorsed by Kacey Musgraves

James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas, made a public appearance at a festival over the weekend after being off the campaign trail for almost two weeks. He was introduced by country music star Kacey Musgraves to a crowd of thousands during a concert.

In a post on social media, Talarico expressed gratitude to Musgraves, sharing photos from the event. During the concert, he was seen enjoying the performance from behind a barricade.

Interestingly, Talarico’s extended absence had drawn attention from his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. He had criticized Talarico in a social media post, humorously demanding “proof of life” as a response to the Democrat’s 12-day silence. Paxton suggested that Talarico was having a “full-blown mental Tala-freak-out” on a public platform.

Prior to his reappearance, Talarico’s last public engagement was on September 26, where he spoke about suspending the federal gas tax and U.S. relations with Iran. A few days later, he attended virtually a meeting with the United States Hispanic Business Council, citing illness as the reason for his absence from in-person events.

Musgraves, who has appeared to endorse Talarico, has previously made headlines by advocating for respect towards children’s gender identities. At a concert, she urged parents to honor their children’s wishes regarding gender choices.