The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has launched its first attack advertisement against Democratic House candidate Cait Conley, focusing on her public support for transgender issues and opposition to a bill that included provisions restricting Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for gender-affirming care. The ad targets Conley's alignment with groups like the Equality PAC, which has opposed legislation that bans taxpayer funding for puberty blockers and hormone treatments for individuals under 18.
The NRCC's ad claims Conley accepts funding from "extreme groups pushing transgender sex changes for kids" and warns of "irreversible" consequences and "outrageous" costs. It specifically highlights that one of the medications used in gender-affirming care for minors is also used in chemical castration for sex offenders.
Conley, a combat veteran, is in a competitive race against Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in New York's 17th Congressional District. Lawler has also criticized Conley's opposition to the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," though his campaign has focused on her stance related to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap, an issue he lobbied to influence. The provision to raise the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 was a key component of the bill that Conley opposed due to its restrictions on gender-affirming care.
This advertising strategy aligns with a broader trend among Republicans in competitive races across the country, who are frequently highlighting their Democratic opponents' positions on transgender issues. The NRCC, with significant financial resources, is leveraging a recent Supreme Court decision that permits greater coordination between official party campaign groups and individual candidates.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some effects of hormonal therapy and puberty blockers on children may not be reversible. Conley's campaign has been contacted for clarification regarding her specific position on taxpayer funding for gender-affirming care in minors.