A woman stepped up to the mic at Rob Sand’s recent campaign event in Iowa City and said she felt compelled to speak on behalf of her neighbor, a 13-year-old boy who loves to play baseball.
This is a matter of national importance because the woman’s neighbor is transgender, and because Sand, in his run as the Democratic candidate for Iowa governor, voiced opposition to allowing trans athletes to play on the team aligning with their gender identity.
“You know the right wing wants elected officials like you to quack, ‘oh I don’t think men should play in women’s sports,’” the audience member told Sand during a Q&A session.
Rob Sand has come under fire in recent weeks after a conservative talk show host asked if he supported “biological men” in women’s sports.
During that interview, Sand replied, “No.”
Now, in front of a packed room, a voter asked Sand: “Can you make clear that you support trans people, you support trans athletes, you are for equal rights for everybody?”
The crowd burst into applause.
Apparently, Sand could not tell this prospective constituent that he supported equal rights for everybody.
“There have been two laws passed related to transgender folks recently,” Sand said. “One is the sports question. I tend to agree with them on that, and I know you might be disappointed in me.”
The crowd, who had applauded his response to most every other question, stayed quiet. Silence. But someone cut through the silence. “Coward!” a voice yelled from the crowd.
Then, Sand continued, “Okay, here’s the other one. They repealed civil rights. So now in the state of Iowa, you can be fired from your job, and you can be evicted from your apartment because of who you are. And I think that’s wrong, also, for the same reason. It’s fairness. That’s not fair to people.”
He also said he would veto any “culture war” bill that comes his way.
The audience clapped.
Still, it seems Iowans did not take kindly to Sand’s revisions to the concept of “equal rights.” In Sand’s definition, “equal rights for everybody” appears to apply to only some people.
In other words, inequality.
“I want everybody to feel welcome in this state,” Sand said. “That doesn’t mean that everybody gets exactly what they want.”
Sand isn’t the only Democrat allowing himself to be pulled to the right on equal rights issues when it comes to trans people. The number of Democratic candidates who accept right-wing narratives targeting transgender people has increased this midterm cycle.
Among the worst offenders on this list of Democratic defectors is Amy Acton, who affirmed her support for Ohio’s trans sports ban and then skipped the meeting her own campaign had organized in the fallout. There’s Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, who has voted for practically every anti-trans bill or provision that has come across his desk. And nearly two dozen more Democratic candidates are being tracked by Erin in the Morning over their anti-trans comments on the campaign trail, anti-trans ads on the airwaves, or anti-trans votes for incumbents in the legislature.
You can see the full exchange between Sand and voters in Iowa City here:
I wish Democrats would find the guts to say biology matters, but what biology says is, the "masculine" athletic advantage depends on the last two years of blood testosterone levels and a 13yo benefitting from blockers & HRT never had any such advantage. Let the girl then play on the girl's team.
Thank you, Baum.
Politicians like Iowa’s Rob Sands and others across the country continue to ignore what should be obvious: transgender boys and girls deserve the same opportunity as every other child to participate in the sports they choose.
These politicians are not listening to the people they want to/or represent. They are turning transgender children into political targets instead of focusing on the real challenges facing families.
The message from elections in 2025 and primaries this year should be clear: voters are paying attention, and politicians who continue to push discriminatory policies cannot assume the public will stand behind them.
Politicians are supposed to represent ALL people—not just the loudest bigots in their party. Their responsibility is to protect the rights, dignity, and opportunities of every child, including transgender youth.
It is time to stop using our children as political punching bags. We need elected officials who will stand up for equality, listen to their constituents, and govern for everyone.
We must hold these politicians accountable at the ballot box. Vote for leaders who believe every child deserves dignity, fairness, and the freedom to be themselves.