<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico addressed his opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, regarding conspiracy theories that emerged during his nine-day absence due to the flu. Talarico stated during a live town hall hosted by CNN on Wednesday night that he would not change his approach during that time.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Texas Democrat returned to campaigning last weekend after more than a week away due to illness, as conspiracy theories circulated among right-wing activists on social media. Talarico described his decision to stay home as the "responsible" choice and responded "no" when asked if he would have acted differently.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">CNN’s Erin Burnett posed the question to Talarico at the beginning of the program.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“That decision to stay home for a week sent my opponent and his conspiracy theorists spiraling,” Talarico said during the event in Fort Worth, Texas.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I mean, these false claims got millions of views online, and this is an example of what I call the rage economy,” Talarico continued. “Conspiracy theorists can post anything they want on the internet. They get clicks. The billionaires who own these platforms get rich. We all get angry, and nobody’s life gets any better. Conspiracy theories don’t put food on the table.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Talarico faced significant criticism and mockery after stepping away from the campaign following a Sept. 30 virtual call with the Hispanic Business Council, during which he revealed his flu diagnosis.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Paxton also criticized Talarico’s absence on social media, with his campaign demanding “proof of life.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Conservative activists spread rumors suggesting that Talarico was struggling with mental health issues and had secretly been hospitalized in Ohio. The hospital in question denied that Talarico had ever been treated there. Talarico responded on social media that he had never been to Ohio.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I opened up social media and learned that I apparently had dropped out of the race, had flown to a mental hospital, and that I had died,” he said.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Talarico remains in a competitive race with Paxton as early voting approaches on Monday, with most polls indicating a slight advantage for the Democrat.</p>