California Democrats are doubling down on transgender athlete policies that polling shows most voters — including many in their own party — oppose, setting up another contentious primary battle over women’s sports.
The state’s Democratic establishment is backing candidates who support allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports categories, despite surveys showing roughly 70% of Americans believe athletes should compete based on biological sex. The issue has become a flashpoint in several California primary races, with progressive candidates refusing to budge even as moderate Democrats warn it’s political suicide.
In Orange County’s 45th Congressional District, Democratic challenger Sarah Chen recently doubled down on her support for current policies, stating at a town hall that “trans girls are girls, period.” Her Republican opponent immediately cut an ad featuring concerned mothers and former female athletes. Similar dynamics are playing out in at least four other competitive districts across the state.
The rift isn’t just between parties. Democratic consultant Maria Rodriguez, who worked on Biden’s 2020 campaign, told reporters the issue is “killing us with suburban moms and working-class voters who otherwise agree with us on healthcare and wages.” She pointed to internal polling showing even Democratic women split roughly 50-50 on whether biological males should compete in women’s sports.
The debate intensified after a biological male won the California state championship in girls’ track last month, breaking a 20-year-old record. Parents of female athletes filed complaints, sparking protests at the state capitol. Rather than moderating their stance, progressive Democrats introduced legislation to strengthen existing transgender athlete protections and potentially punish schools that don’t comply.
Republican strategists see an opening. “California Democrats are so captured by activist groups that they can’t see what’s right in front of them,” said GOP consultant Tom Brennan. “This isn’t about animus toward anyone. It’s about fairness for daughters, sisters, and granddaughters who’ve trained their whole lives.”
The California Democratic Party hasn’t backed down, with party chair Jamal Henderson calling concerns about transgender athletes “manufactured outrage” designed to distract from Republican economic policies. But internal party documents obtained by news outlets show growing worry among campaign officials that the issue is driving away persuadable voters in swing districts.
The primary is set for June 3rd. How California Democrats perform in November may determine whether the party nationally continues defending these policies or seeks middle ground with an increasingly skeptical electorate.
Key Points
- California Democratic candidates are defending transgender athlete policies despite polls showing most voters, including many Democrats, oppose biological males competing in women’s sports
- The issue is creating primary battles in multiple competitive districts, with Republican opponents highlighting concerned parents and female athletes
- Internal Democratic strategists warn the position is “killing” the party with suburban moms and working-class voters, but progressive activists and party leadership refuse to moderate their stance
https://nypost.com/2026/05/11/opinion/democrats-keep-attacking-womens-sports-in-california/ – May 11, 2026
