# Democrats shift transgender stance amid GOP backlash > Democrats pivot on transgender policies as Republicans weaponize the issue. - Title: Democrats shift transgender stance amid GOP backlash - Summary: Democrats pivot on transgender policies as Republicans weaponize the issue. Democrats are recalibrating their transgender messaging to counter Republican… - Keywords: democrats, transgender, transgender athletes, senate nominee, south carolina, republicans, kamala harris, donald trump, transgender policies, midterm elections, transgender surgeries, political strategy - Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/democrats-changing-transgender-message-republicans-say-flip-flopping - Author: Paul Steinhauser - Published: 2026-10-09T00:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: democrats, transgender, transgender athletes, senate nominee, south carolina, republicans, kamala harris, donald trump, transgender policies, midterm elections, transgender surgeries, political strategy ## South Carolina Dem nominee shifts stance Dr. Annie Andrews rejects biological men in women's sports and gender surgeries for minors after past opposition. > I don't support biological men playing in women's sports, and I don't support gender surgery on minors. ## Republican backlash on transgender policy Sen. Darline Graham accuses Andrews of hiding her past support for transgender athletes in girls' sports. > 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. ## GOP targets Democrats on transgender issue Republicans spent over $200 million on ads targeting Democrats with transgender messaging in the 2024 election cycle. > Republicans spent more than $200 million to run ads targeting Democrats on the transgender issue in the 2.024 campaign. ## Public opinion on transgender policies 76% of Americans support banning biological men from women's sports, with bipartisan backing across parties. > More than three-quarters (76%) of those questioned in a Fox News national poll conducted last month backed banning biological men from competing in women's sports. ## Trump's transgender strategy President Trump calls anti-trans messaging a key campaign tool for driving voter turnout against Democrats. > It’s one of our great soundbites of all time. ## Democrats recalibrate messaging California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Rep. Seth Moulton shift positions to counter Republican attacks on transgender policies. > I believe boys should not play in girls’ sports. ## Texas candidate faces GOP criticism Texas Rep. James Talarico opposes transgender athletes in girls' sports if it endangers safety or fairness. > I oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it endangers safety or fairness. ## Ohio rep shifts stance Rep. Marcy Kaptur runs ads opposing transgender athletes in girls' sports and gender surgeries for minors. > I voted to ban schools from touting gender ideology in classrooms. ## GOP challenges Democratic messaging NRCC claims Rep. Kaptur's past votes on transgender issues undermine her current messaging. > Kaptur voted against the GOP-led Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in April 2023 and January 2025. ## Democrats pivot to voter concerns Democratic strategist Maria Cardona says Democrats are defining positions to counter opponents before shifting to issues voters care about. > Democrats are defining where they are on this issue so their opponents can't define them and then pivoting back to the issues that they know that voters actually care about. ## Moulton faces primary defeat Rep. Seth Moulton loses Democratic Senate primary to progressive Sen. Ed Markey. > I apologize for my past transgender comments. ## What happens next Democrats aim to counter Republican attacks on transgender policies by defining their stance before shifting to voter priorities. ## Key takeaway Democrats are recalibrating their transgender messaging to counter Republican attacks after shifting positions on transgender athletes and surgeries.