Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Back to the race record

Issue record

Health care

In short

Flores's campaign backs wider access to affordable drugs and VA care; Gonzalez's backs care that works in cities and rural areas. Royal's site and 2024 survey state no position; Espinoza's campaign would expand Medicare for All with no co-pays or premiums. Gonzalez was lead cosponsor of a Medicaid drug-pricing bill that did not become law. He voted for a $35 insulin cap in 2021 that died; the 2022 cap he backed covers Medicare alone.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Eric Flores

His priorities page has no health-care section. Under seniors it supports wider access to affordable prescription drugs, and under veterans wider access to VA care.

Vicente Gonzalez

His campaign supports a health-care system that works in cities and rural areas alike, including prevention, mental health and long-term care, and says no family should choose between medical care and basic needs.

Chris Royal

No position on health care was found on his site or in his 2024 survey answers.

Eddie Espinoza

His platform would improve and expand Medicare for All, with no co-pays or premiums, covering vision, hearing aids, dental care and prescriptions.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

    Bill text names him among those who introduced a Medicaid drug-pricing bill in 2021 and 2023, as lead cosponsor; none of the 55 measures he sponsored is on drug prices.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says he has introduced legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The official text of the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act names him among those who introduced it, twice. H.R. 6101 of December 1, 2021 reads "Mr. Carter of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas) introduced the following bill", and H.R. 1613 of March 17, 2023 names him first after Carter; Congress.gov lists Carter as sponsor and Gonzalez as an original cosponsor of both. The bill curbs spread pricing by pharmacy benefit managers in Medicaid, and that provision passed the House as section 202 of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act on December 11, 2023, 320-71, with his Yea (Roll Call 708). In 2025 he was an original cosponsor of the PBM Reform Act (H.R. 4317) and both Pharmacists Fight Back bills (H.R. 6609 and 6610). Three of the PBM Reform Act's six sections, on Medicare drug plans and employer health plans, became law almost word for word as sections 6223, 6224 and 6701 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-75). He voted Yea when the House passed that act on January 22, 2026 (Roll Call 45) and Nay on the final House vote on February 3 (Roll Call 53). In all he has cosponsored more than twenty drug-price bills, among them the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act in 2019, and voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, whose Medicare drug-price negotiation became law in 2022. Limit: The bill text uses his verb: it names him among the members who introduced the bill, though Carter was its sponsor and Gonzalez the lead cosponsor. None of the 55 items Congress.gov lists him as sponsoring concerns drug prices. The bill is aimed at what Medicaid pays for drugs, not at the price a patient pays. The Medicaid bill did not become law, and its spread-pricing section is not in the 2025 reconciliation act or the 2026 appropriations act. That act did carry most of the PBM Reform Act, though he voted against its final version.

  2. official action

    Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

    He voted for the 2021 Build Back Better Act, whose $35 insulin cap reached private insurance; it died, and the cap he voted for in 2022 covers Medicare only.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says that in 2021 he voted for historic legislation to cap the cost of insulin at $35 and bring down the cost of medicines. On November 19, 2021 he voted Yea on the Build Back Better Act (Roll Call 385, 220-213). As passed by the House it would have barred group health plans and individual insurance from charging more than $35 a month for selected insulin products from 2023. That bill did not become law. On August 12, 2022 he voted Yea on the Inflation Reduction Act (Roll Call 420), which limits Medicare cost-sharing for covered insulin products and became Public Law 117-169. Limit: The 2021 vote is as he describes it. The cap he voted for in 2021 reached private insurance; the cap that became law a year later covers Medicare only. Both votes split almost entirely by party; in 2021 one Democrat, Jared Golden of Maine, voted No.

  3. official action

    Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction

    He voted against the 2017 House repeal bill and the 2017 tax law that zeroed the coverage penalty, though both passed the House; Medicare and Social Security were not tested.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    His campaign says that since coming to Congress he has voted down Republican efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Social Security. In his first year he voted No on the American Health Care Act, the House bill to repeal and replace much of the Affordable Care Act, which passed 217-213 on May 4, 2017 (Roll Call 256) and did not become law. He also voted Nay at all three House votes on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, from November 16 to December 20, 2017 (Roll Calls 637, 692 and 699). It became Public Law 115-97, whose section 11081 cut the Affordable Care Act's penalty for going without coverage to zero from 2019. Limit: Two measures, four recorded votes, all in the direction the claim states; they do not score his whole record, and the Medicare and Social Security halves of the sentence are not tested by them. Both passed the House despite his votes: the first died in the Senate and the second became law, so "voted down" describes his votes, not the outcome.

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Sources27 source records

How we use sources

  1. Prioritieshttps://www.ericflores.com/priorities

    Eric Flores for Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Eight subjects: South Texas and the Coastal Bend, the cost of living, infrastructure, water, veterans, seniors, farmers and ranchers, and small business. There is no section on health care, education or the border, though the home page lists securing the border among his priorities.

    candidate statement

    For: Eric Flores: campaign position

  2. Issueshttps://vicentegonzalez.com/issues/

    Vicente Gonzalez for Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Seven subjects: affordability, seniors, women's rights, education, veterans, health care and jobs. It states goals rather than proposals, and names no bill. There is no section on the border, energy or campaign finance.

    candidate statement

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: campaign position

  3. Chris Royal for Congresshttps://chriscongress.com/

    Chris Royal for Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    A one-page site built on a website builder, much of it marked under construction. It carries no paid-for line, so it was identified by its name, its Libertarian content and its closing request to vote for Chris Royal in November; it is the address search results give for his campaign. It links no social account. Read September 23, 2026.

    candidate statement

    For: Chris Royal: campaign position

  4. Chris Royalhttps://ballotpedia.org/Chris_Royal

    Ballotpedia · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Carries his own answers to Ballotpedia's candidate survey, given in 2024 when he was running for this seat as an independent. They are his words but they are two years old, and he was not on the 2024 general-election ballot. Used for his biography and for positions where his current site says nothing, each marked with its year. The page lists a personal Facebook account.

    candidate statement

    For: Chris Royal: campaign position

  5. Prioritieshttps://espinoza4tx.com/priorities/

    Espinoza For Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source; his platform as a list.

    candidate statement

    For: Eddie Espinoza: campaign position

  6. Accomplishmentshttps://vicentegonzalez.com/accomplishments/

    Vicente Gonzalez for Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source and the page where he makes claims about his own record: seven sections on the economy, jobs, seniors, veterans, women's rights, health care and education. Every quoted sentence on this desk was matched against the live page.

    candidate statement

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim; Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction

  7. H.R. 6101, Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act of 2021, as introducedhttps://api.govinfo.gov/packages/BILLS-117hr6101ih/htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The introduced text of December 1, 2021 reads "Mr. Carter of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas) introduced the following bill". It amends section 1927(e) of the Social Security Act to require pass-through pricing in Medicaid contracts with pharmacy benefit managers. Congress.gov lists Carter as sponsor and Gonzalez as the only original cosponsor; referred to the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  8. H.R. 1613, Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act of 2023, as introducedhttps://api.govinfo.gov/packages/BILLS-118hr1613ih/htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The introduced text of March 17, 2023 reads "Mr. Carter of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Ms. Stefanik, Ms. Ross, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Auchincloss) introduced the following bill". Congress.gov lists Gonzalez first of five original cosponsors, 37 cosponsors in all; referred to the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  9. H.R. 5378, Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, as passed by the Househttps://api.govinfo.gov/packages/BILLS-118hr5378eh/htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The engrossed text. Section 202, "Improving transparency and preventing the use of abusive spread pricing and related practices in Medicaid", amends the same section 1927(e) as the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act. The bill passed the House on December 11, 2023 and went no further. No spread-pricing provision was found in Public Law 119-21 or Public Law 119-75, searched by "spread pricing" and "1396r-8".

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  10. Roll Call 708, 2023, H.R. 5378, Lower Costs, More Transparency Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023708

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of December 11, 2023; the question was on suspending the rules and passing the bill as amended; it passed 320-71, with one Present. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  11. H.R. 4317, PBM Reform Act of 2025https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4317

    Congress.gov · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Sponsored by Buddy Carter of Georgia on July 10, 2025; Gonzalez is an original cosponsor, one of 70 cosponsors. The bill itself went no further, but its sections 2, 3 and 4 became law in Public Law 119-75.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  12. Public Law 119-75, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ75/html/PLAW-119publ75.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Enacted text, approved February 3, 2026. Division J carries sections 2, 3 and 4 of H.R. 4317 as sections 6223, 6224 and 6701 (the last adding ERISA section 726 and tax code section 9826). H.R. 4317's two Medicaid sections, 5 and 6, are not in it; "spread pricing" does not appear.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  13. Roll Call 45, 2026, H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202645

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of January 22, 2026; the question was on passage; it passed 341-88. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  14. Roll Call 53, 2026, H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202653

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of February 3, 2026; the question was on concurring in the Senate amendments; it passed 217-214. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  15. H.R. 6609, Pharmacists Fight Back in Medicare and Medicaid Acthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6609

    Congress.gov · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Sponsored by Jake Auchincloss on December 11, 2025; Gonzalez is an original cosponsor. Referred to committee.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  16. H.R. 6610, Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Acthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6610

    Congress.gov · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Sponsored by Jake Auchincloss on December 11, 2025; Gonzalez is an original cosponsor. Ordered reported, amended, 40-2.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  17. Roll Call 420, 2022, H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2022420

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of August 12, 2022; the question was on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment; it carried 220-207. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  18. Public Law 117-169, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022https://api.govinfo.gov/packages/PLAW-117publ169/htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Enacted text. Section 11001 sets up Medicare price negotiation for certain high-priced drugs; section 11406 limits Medicare cost-sharing for covered insulin products; section 50121 funds home energy rebates.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  19. Vicente Gonzalez, cosponsored legislationhttps://api.congress.gov/v3/member/G000581/cosponsored-legislation

    Congress.gov · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The whole list, 1,612 items, read to find the strongest support for his drug-price claim. More than twenty titles concern the price or coverage of prescription drugs, insulin or pharmacies, among them the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3, 116th Congress) and the Affordable Insulin Now Act (H.R. 1488, 118th).

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  20. Vicente Gonzalez, sponsored legislationhttps://api.congress.gov/v3/member/G000581/sponsored-legislation

    Congress.gov · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The whole list, 55 items across the 115th to 119th Congresses: 53 bills and resolutions and two floor amendments. One became law, H.R. 6244 of the 118th Congress, which named a post office in Brownsville. None of the 55 concerns the price of prescription drugs.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  21. Roll Call 385, 2021, H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2021385

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of November 19, 2021; the question was on passage; it passed 220-213. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  22. H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act, as passed by the Househttps://api.govinfo.gov/packages/BILLS-117hr5376eh/htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The engrossed text of November 19, 2021. Section 30604 would have barred group health plans and individual insurance from charging more than $35 a month for selected insulin products from 2023; sections 27001 and 139401 carry the same rule for other plan types. This version did not become law.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated record claim

  23. Roll Call 256, 2017, H.R. 1628, American Health Care Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017256

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of May 4, 2017; the question was on passage; it passed 217-213. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction

  24. Roll Call 637, 2017, H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017637

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of November 16, 2017; the question was on passage; it passed 227-205. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction

  25. Roll Call 692, 2017, H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017692

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of December 19, 2017; the question was on agreeing to the conference report; it passed 227-203. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction

  26. Roll Call 699, 2017, H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Acthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2017699

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of December 20, 2017; the question was on concurring in the Senate amendment; it passed 224-201. Read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by Gonzalez's member ID, G000581, which Congress.gov's by-state listing for the 119th Congress gives for him.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction

  27. Public Law 115-97, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acthttps://api.govinfo.gov/packages/PLAW-115publ97/htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Enacted text, approved December 22, 2017. Section 11081, "Elimination of shared responsibility payment for individuals failing to maintain minimum essential coverage", sets the Affordable Care Act's individual-mandate penalty to zero per cent and $0 for months after December 31, 2018.

    official legislative record

    For: Vicente Gonzalez: Matches stated direction