Senate GOP doubles down on anti-trans attack ads
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during a bus tour campaign rally. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Republicans have spent $82 million in the last few months to slam Democratic lawmakers and candidates over support for transgender athletes and gender-affirming care for kids.
Why it matters: Senate races are an epicenter of the fight over trans rights.
- “It's the social issue that Democrats are furthest away from the center of America on," Mike Berg, NRSC spokesperson, told Axios.
- Gender-affirming care is backed as medically necessary by leading health groups like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. That care rarely involves surgery for minors, even for older teens.
By the numbers: Republicans have spent an overwhelming majority of their $82 million in spending in Senate races. Since mid-July, they've splashed over $77 million on ads about transgender issues in races in 10 states, according to AdImpact data as of Oct. 24.
- Republicans have been spending most on transgender-related ads in the Ohio Senate race.
- The Mitch McConnell-linked Senate Leadership Fund has spent $32 million in Ohio alone, hitting incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown on voting for "allowing trans biological men in girls locker rooms" and "sex change surgery for kids."
- An ad from the Brown campaign calls the GOP attacks a "complete lie" and asks voters to "reject the lies."
Zoom in: The Texas Senate race comes in second, with multiple groups supporting Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) spending $15.8 million on aggressive ads bashing support for transgender athletes competing in women's sports.
The other side: Democrats have spent nearly $9 million to refute the GOP attacks or hit back at Republican opposition to broader LGBTQ rights.
- Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas), who is running for Senate, released an ad responding to attacks from Cruz, saying: "Let me be clear: I don't want boys playing girls' sports, or any of this ridiculous stuff Ted Cruz is saying."
- Advocacy groups argue that GOP anti-trans messaging is not effective in influencing voters' decisions, but could endanger trans people.
What they're saying: Republican sources have told Axios the ads are particularly effective with suburban moms and men of color.
- "This is Republicans going on offense on social issues in a way they haven’t been able to do since Roe was overturned," one national GOP strategist told Axios.
- Another strategist said the issue "moves everyone other than the Democratic base."
