Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s attempt to alter her transgender stance has drawn blowback from party members in her Ohio district.
On Tuesday, the Lucas County Democratic Party criticized Ms. Kaptur for running an ad slamming “transgender ideology” and transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports.
“This is the type of harmful ad we expect from Derek Merrin and the Republicans,” the Democrats wrote, referencing her opponent. “We are disappointed and ashamed that the Kaptur campaign stooped to their level by using this incredibly dangerous anti-trans rhetoric.”
Ms. Kaptur, who has served in Congress since 1983, is pulling out all the stops to win reelection in a Toledo-area district redrawn to favor Republicans.
“Here’s the truth: I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools, because parents know what’s best for their kids,” she said in a recent ad. “And boys should not play in girls’ sports.”
The switch for Ms. Kaptur, who sponsored legislation to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, is part of a larger trend of vulnerable Democrats pivoting on transgender rights. Mr. Merrin has run ads accusing Ms. Kaptur of voting to “let biological men compete against girls in their sports.”
Some Ohio Democrats think Ms. Kaptur has gone too far.
“Shame on you and your campaign staff for pushing this incredibly harmful anti-Trans rhetoric,” wrote the Lucas County Stonewall Democrats, an LGBTQ group, in a Monday letter to Ms. Kaptur.
The group demanded Ms. Kaptur take down the ad but left little hope for forgiveness, saying “there is no difference” whether she or Mr. Merrin wins in November.
“Your LGBTQIA+ constituents … expected more from you,” the group wrote, accusing her of trying to “earn a few votes by inflicting pain on Trans people.”
The county’s Democratic Party followed with its own letter in solidarity, in which its authors nevertheless said they were confident that Ms. Kaptur will win reelection.
Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults said they are uncomfortable with transgender athletes competing on sports teams that don’t match their sex at birth, according to a Pew Research Center survey published in August.
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