From Texastribune · · 1m 50s
Ken Paxton's Anti-Talarico Conspiracy
Republican allies spread false claims James Talarico was in a mental health facility to undermine his Senate campaign.
In brief
Republican allies spread false claims James Talarico was in a mental health facility to undermine his Senate campaign. Texas Senate candidate James Talarico denied being treated at a mental health facility in Ohio after Republican activists falsely claimed he was having a mental breakdown. Originally reported by…
Texas Senate Race
Republican Ken Paxton leads Democratic candidate James Talarico in polls despite Talarico's progressive record.
False Mental Health Claim
Paxton's allies falsely claimed Talarico was being treated at a mental health facility in Ohio to undermine his campaign.
Talarico's Flu Recovery
Talarico said he was too sick with the flu to attend in person after a campaign event near Dallas on Sept 26.
Paxton's Attack Ads
Paxton released ads claiming Talarico was 'mentally fragile' and had a 'full-blown mental Tala-freak-out'.
Social Media Amplification
Conservative influencers shared unverified claims Talarico was in a mental health facility after his absence from campaign events.
False Facility Claim
A right-wing influencer claimed to have called a mental health facility and confirmed Talarico was 'just discharged this evening'.
Talarico's Reappearance
Talarico reappeared at Austin City Limits music festival on Oct 9 after being absent for nearly two weeks.
Facility Confirmation
Lindner Center confirmed Talarico had never been treated at their facility, debunking the false claims.
Political Scientist View
Political scientist Kirby Goidel said speculation about Talarico's whereabouts is common in politics with little penalty for being wrong.
State Rep. Brent Money
State Rep. Brent Money claimed Talarico's public statements show 'depraved mind' despite no knowledge of his whereabouts.
Talarico's Campaign Response
Talarico provided home security footage to New York Times to prove his whereabouts during the false claims.
Election Day Impact
With 20 days until Election Day, Talarico's campaign faced misinformation that could affect voter trust in his candidacy.
The key point
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico denied being treated at a mental health facility in Ohio after Republican activists falsely claimed he was having a mental breakdown.
