Senate Candidates Divided on Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports

The debate over transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports is creating fissures among Democratic Senate candidates as they approach the 2026 midterm elections. While many Republican opponents have taken firm stances favoring restrictions, Democratic nominees exhibit a range of approaches, from opposing participation to supporting local control and broader protections for transgender individuals.

In Texas, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico has stated he would oppose transgender athletes in girls' sports when it compromises safety or fairness. Talarico, a former public school teacher, previously voted against a bill requiring athletes to compete based on their birth certificates. His campaign spokesperson noted that Talarico opposes discrimination but also supports decisions being made at the local level, while defending his stance against overly broad legislation. His Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has actively pursued legal action against organizations like the NCAA over their policies regarding transgender athletes.

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has previously advocated for transgender students' access to sports teams matching their gender identity, citing concerns about bullying and mental health. However, when asked about transgender athletes in women's sports in a recent interview, El-Sayed suggested eligibility should be determined by sports governing bodies. His Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, supports excluding athletes who were assigned male at birth from women's competitions.

In North Carolina, Democratic Senate nominee Roy Cooper, as governor, vetoed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act in July 2023, which would have restricted male athletes from competing on girls' and women's teams. Cooper argued that such decisions were already handled by existing systems and that politicians should not make uninformed decisions about vulnerable children. The state legislature overrode his veto. Cooper's Republican opponent, former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, supports the state's restrictions and criticized Cooper's veto.

Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff voted against advancing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in March 2025, calling the bill federal overreach and suggesting school districts and athletic associations could manage eligibility without federal intervention. He also voted against a similar amendment in March 2026. His Republican opponent, Rep. Mike Collins, voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in the House and has campaigned on opposing transgender participation in women's sports.

Minnesota's Democratic Senate nominee, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, has committed to supporting the Transgender Bill of Rights, which includes protections for transgender individuals in athletics. Her campaign has criticized her opponent's stance without detailing Flanagan's specific approach to federal restrictions. Her Republican opponent, former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, has made restricting male athletes from women's sports and locker rooms a central campaign issue.

Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson voted in June 2023 to reject legislation that would have limited girls' secondary-school sports teams to students of the female sex. His past questionnaire responses suggest opposition to combining transgender sports bans with other protections. Jackson's Republican opponent, Sen. Susan Collins, has explicitly supported excluding transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports, citing fairness, safety, and Title IX protections based on sex rather than gender identity.

New Hampshire Democratic Senate nominee Chris Pappas voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in January 2025 and an earlier version in April 2023, calling such legislation "bigoted, harmful attacks on the transgender community." He argued that excluding transgender students harms them and that all students should have opportunities in school athletics. His Republican opponent, former Sen. John E. Sununu, supports restrictions on transgender athletes in women's sports and views protecting female athletes' opportunities as consistent with Title IX.

In Ohio, Democratic Senate nominee Sherrod Brown opposed federal funding restrictions targeting schools that allow transgender girls and women to compete on female teams. He has voted against proposals to withhold education funding over transgender participation, with his campaign stating he supports a fair process and leaving eligibility decisions to local sports leagues. His Republican opponent, Sen. Jon Husted, supports excluding transgender girls and women from female sports teams, stating that "Men should not compete in women’s sports."

Iowa Democratic Senate nominee Josh Turek, a Paralympic gold medalist, has stated he does not believe biological males should compete against females in sports. However, he has also argued that eligibility decisions should rest with sports governing organizations rather than Congress. His legislative record includes a vote against a bill requiring students to use school bathrooms and changing facilities corresponding to their sex at birth. His Republican opponent, Rep. Ashley Hinson, voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, aiming to protect the integrity of girls' sports.