Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was spotted on the campaign trail for the first time after a nearly two-week absence, an absence that drew heavy speculation.

Talarico disappeared late last month in the homestretch of the critical Senate race. His campaign told the media on Friday that it was due to a diagnosis of the flu, and that he would be back on the campaign trail over the weekend. Facing withering Republican attacks, he appeared back in public one day before the weekend, mingling with voters at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.