Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is facing unverified online rumors after canceling campaign events due to contracting influenza.
President Donald Trump and Republican opponent Ken Paxton seized on his absence at a San Antonio rally, with Trump posting on Truth Social that bad rumors are circulating.
Talarico leads Paxton by six points in recent New York Times and Siena Research Institute polls, and his last public appearance was at a New York fundraiser on September 28.