(TX US Senate Race)Texas Tribune: GOP backlash against Talarico's Insulin cap claim

[SSJVegeta]

“When I picked up my first insulin prescription, it cost me $684. I couldn’t afford that — most Texans can’t either,” Talarico, who has Type I diabetes, says in the 30-second ad, which is running on TV statewide and in major media markets through election day on March 3. “So when I got to the Texas House, I took on Big Pharma and capped insulin at $25 a month.”

The ad drew backlash last week from Republicans including Texas GOP Chair Abraham George, who demanded Talarico “stop misleading Texas voters by falsely claiming credit for Republican-led legislation.” Several GOP elected officials piled on to amplify the attack.

“Let’s set the record straight about how the price of insulin was lowered for Texans,” state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham and chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, posted on social media. “The truth is that you did not author the bill that passed in 2021.”

In her post, Kolkhorst noted she was the author of Senate Bill 827, the 2021 legislation that set a $25 cap on out-of-pocket costs for a 30-day supply of insulin for those on state-regulated health plans. She also credited former Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, and Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress and then-chair of the House Insurance Committee, for the bill’s passage in the lower chamber.

🔥 🔥 In a statement, Talarico spokesperson JT Ennis said Talarico was “the first legislator to introduce a bill to cap monthly insulin prices in Texas, personally went desk to desk to build bipartisan support for the effort, and his viral diabetes story drew the national attention needed to get it passed.” 🔥 🔥

“Any victory this big can’t be achieved alone, and James has praised his colleagues for their work — but any assertion that he wasn’t instrumental to passing this bill is a flat-out lie,” Ennis said.

https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/27/james-talarico-insulin-cap-texas-legislature-senate-primary-attacks/

If this guy gets the nomination, he will destroy the current TX GOP from the inside out. They are absolutely terrified of him.

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Much as I admire Crockett for her passion, Talarico is as passionate but calmer.

[leftstreet]

2. Great response

No backing down.

It's time to play tough with these GOP fuckers

[SSJVegeta]

3. All they have to stand on are lies

But those lies will crumble when faced with courageous truth.

[AZJonnie]

4. It wouldn't have been hard for Talarico to make his original claim more accurately

He has a great claim for his accomplishment in this arena, but opened himself up to the inevitable pushback vis-a-vis the imprecision. Perhaps that was intentional (to raise awareness via the ensuing argument), but if not, it may be better to more precise in his phrasing moving forward

[SSJVegeta]

5. Actually it would have

He had 30 seconds and everything he said in the ad was true.

He was rhe first person to even introduce the idea and the primary reason the TX legislature decided to even pass the law in the first place.

[AZJonnie]

6. Just a couple more clarifying words and it would've been unassailable

"I took on Big Pharma and capped insulin at $25 a month." is overselling it a bit

[SSJVegeta]

7. I very strongly disagree.

I mean, he wasnt the only one who did it.

But FDR wasnt the only one who got us the new deal policies either. Do we then presume to say he would be overselling it by claiming to be responsible for them?

I think in a smaller sense, this is similar.

This was Talarico's crusade. He got others on board and won. He absolutely "took on Big Pharma and capped insulin at $25 a month."

[SSJVegeta]

8. Conversely

Every republican and Democrat who helped get this passed can largely say the same. I imagine most Democrats will.

But will Republicans? Despite this criticism, I highly doubt it will be a core part of their 2026 state legislative elections party platform or agenda in any foreseeable future.

[pinkstarburst]

9. Democrats have a big problem with messaging

Talarico's messaging was succinct and easy to understand. Adding more would muddy the waters.