If the rumors are true, this would change the entire outlook of the Senate as we know it. Sources say that James Talarico has been checked into a mental health facility. Questions have swirled in light of his disappearance over the last two weeks, but now there is more and more speculation that he had a mental breakdown of sorts.
Spencer Pratt tweeted the following:
"My sources are telling me Talarico is in a mental health facility. His campaign has stopped actively planning events in the vital homestretch.
If this is true, this is actually a time to pray for Talarico. We should, of course, savagely mock his smug, awful campaign advisors by all means... and while, yes, of course, this would be disqualifying for Talarico's aspirations to be a Texas Senator, we must hold empathy for anyone undergoing a crisis. Campaigns are brutal, and not everybody is cut out for it. You need very thick skin. As much as I don't want Talarico anywhere near government, I also don't wish him harm, and no political office is worth having a breakdown. His awful advisors are at fault for this. They pushed him to be something he isn't, and it didn't work.
I'm praying that this isn't true, and he's OK. You want to win these fights on the battlefield of ideas, not the minefield of poor health."
Other journalists have reported similar rumors, although there has been no official confirmation from the Talarico campaign.
Meanwhile, his opponent, Ken Paxton, has demanded "proof of life” from James Talarico after nearly two weeks without a campaign event.
"Nearly 24 hours after the Paxton campaign formally requested proof of life, James Talarico has produced nothing. No video. No flight record. No doctor’s note. With 25 days until Election Day and early voting set to begin October 19, Texans are still asking one simple question: Where’s Jimmy?"
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more.