FACT FOCUS: Posts falsely claim Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was at a mental facility

Republican officials and social media users have been spreading false rumors about Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico being treated in an Ohio mental health facility. Talarico, the nominee in a competitive Texas Senate race, has denied any truth to these claims. The facility in question has confirmed that Talarico was never a patient.

Talarico himself has stated that he was recovering from the flu and that his recent absence from public appearances was due to feeling unwell. Despite the unfounded rumors, Talarico has continued to appear in public, including at the Hispanic Business Council event on September 30 and various concerts in Dallas. The false claims have been circulating despite Talarico's presence at public events and his own statements confirming that he was not in the mental health facility.