Democrats Shift Stance on Transgender Athletes as Republicans Target Issue

Democrats in competitive 2026 midterm election races are adjusting their messaging on transgender athletes in women's sports, a shift that Republicans are seeking to exploit as a political liability. This strategic recalibration comes as Democrats aim to regain control of Congress.

South Carolina Democratic Senate nominee Annie Andrews has recently stated her opposition to biological males competing in women's sports and to gender transition surgeries for minors. "I don't support biological men playing in women's sports, and I don't support gender surgery on minors," Andrews told Fox News Digital. This stance contrasts with her previous public positions, including her opposition to a 2022 South Carolina law that barred transgender athletes from competing on girls' and women's public school sports teams. At the time, Andrews wrote on social media, "This is shameful legislation that does nothing to protect or support women or children in SC. In fact, it is actively harmful. I will always support trans youth."

Andrews' opponent, Republican Sen. Darline Graham, has accused Andrews of attempting to conceal her past stance. "Andrews has spent years supporting biological males competing in girls’ sports. Now that she’s running for Senate, she’s trying to hide from that radical record," Graham stated.

Republicans are leveraging the transgender issue, a tactic that proved effective in the 2024 election cycle. The Trump campaign, for instance, ran advertisements targeting Democrats on this issue, which some analysts believe contributed to GOP victories. Republicans reportedly spent over $200 million on ads focused on transgender issues in the 2024 campaigns.

Recent polls indicate a public sentiment that largely opposes transgender athletes competing in sports aligning with their gender identity. A Fox News national poll conducted last month found that 76% of respondents favored banning biological men from competing in women's sports, with bipartisan support across Republicans, independents, and Democrats.

Donald Trump has described anti-trans messaging as a potent campaign tool for driving voter turnout. Other prominent Republican figures, including Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, have also highlighted the issue in their speeches.

Several Democratic candidates in key races are adopting similar positions to Andrews. In Texas, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico stated, "I oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it endangers safety or fairness." Similarly, Iowa Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek has voiced opposition to biological males in women's sports and gender transition surgeries for minors.

Longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio is running ads stating, "boys should not play in girls’ sports" and highlighting her vote against GOP bills that would ban transgender athletes from sports teams aligned with their gender identity. However, she has faced criticism from Republicans for her voting record, with the National Republican Congressional Committee urging her to disavow her previous votes.

Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina, another vulnerable Democrat, voted for a GOP bill that could criminalize gender-affirming care for minors and features a re-election ad stating, "I believe states should decide what’s right for protecting women and girls, and North Carolina has decided."

Some Democrats have also criticized colleagues for shifting their positions. Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who later apologized for his remarks on transgender athletes, was defeated in the Democratic Senate primary by Sen. Ed Markey, who accused Moulton of alienating transgender children.

Despite these shifts, some Democratic strategists argue that the party is effectively defining its position on the issue to prevent opponents from doing so. They also contend that economic concerns, such as inflation and high gas prices, will be more salient to voters than cultural issues in the upcoming elections.