Democrats Debate Transgender Issues Ahead of Midterms

Democrats running in Republican-leaning states are increasingly opposing transgender girls’ participation in girls’ sports, reflecting an effort to blunt a potent Republican campaign issue ahead of the midterm elections. Candidates including Iowa’s Rob Sands, Ohio’s Amy Acton and Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico have taken positions emphasizing safety and fairness, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called such competition “deeply unfair,” despite disagreeing with President Donald Trump on most issues. The shift has intensified debate within the Democratic Party, with strategists warning that explicitly anti-transgender rhetoric could alienate transgender Americans and progressives, while others argue the party must acknowledge broad voter concerns and focus on economic and other issues. Critics of the recalibration say Democrats should avoid abandoning transgender allies, instead supporting policies that leave medical decisions to individuals and their doctors.