"And I tell you what, if we want to ruin sports, put the government in charge of them.”
Most Republicans can get behind the idea that the government shouldn't be in charge of sports. It's a solidly Republican position. I do not understand why other Democrats are not understanding that they can hold a conservative position on the trans sports political wedge issue without stooping to outright transphobia. I live in Ohio and I interact with Republicans on a nearly daily basis. The overwhelming majority of them never misgender me (even when I didn't pass as cisgender), they do not have a problem with me being transgender, nor do they care when I wear something with the trans pride flag. They might vote in a way that's extremely detrimental to my rights because that's their team and their tribe that they identify with, but most have been completely respectful towards me and do not understand how their vote impacts my life. It doesn't actually win Republicans over to engage in transphobic rhetoric because most of them genuinely do not care and are only concerned with bread and butter issues.
Andy Beshear is right: throwing the transgender community under the bus is a political mistake—and the recent record gives us plenty of reason to question whether this strategy works.
Beshear has already shown that a Democrat can stand up for transgender Kentuckians even in a deeply Republican state. In 2025, he vetoed legislation that would have restricted Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care and reversed his protections against conversion therapy.
Look at Virginia as well. Republican campaigns made transgender issues a major part of their advertising, while Democratic campaigns focused heavily on issues such as the economy and health care. The 2025 results provide no evidence that anti-trans attacks were a magic formula for winning elections.
Democratic politicians need to understand something fundamental: transgender Americans are voters, too. LGBTQ+ families are voters, their friends are voters, and their allies are voters.
You cannot build a winning coalition by telling one group of people that their rights are expendable whenever an election gets difficult.
Stand for your principles. Treat transgender Americans with dignity. And remember: every person has a vote—and every vote counts.
Andy Beshear's secret weapon is that he has core beliefs that that don't change based on consultants and polling. More than any particular policy, I think that's what is lacking in far too many politicians today. It doesn't hurt that his Christian faith begins with "Every person is a child of God." and continues with "What you do for the least of these, you do for me." It steals the thunder of the Christian Nationalists. I'd love to see my Governor Andy on the national ticket in 2028.
How is it that a democrat in deep red Kentucky gets this but others, especially in Ohio don’t.
There are things about Beshear that give me pause... BUT NOT THIS! Bravo for having courage to buck the Corp. Dem. tide!
Why can't all democrats see this? At least someone out there in a position of authority is defending us. Maybe it will lead others to do the same.
And history will not remember prettily those who do throw transgender people under the bus . . .
Remains to be seen how soon that comes bout.
Thank you for the reporting, Mrs. Reed,
"And I tell you what, if we want to ruin sports, put the government in charge of them.”
Most Republicans can get behind the idea that the government shouldn't be in charge of sports. It's a solidly Republican position. I do not understand why other Democrats are not understanding that they can hold a conservative position on the trans sports political wedge issue without stooping to outright transphobia. I live in Ohio and I interact with Republicans on a nearly daily basis. The overwhelming majority of them never misgender me (even when I didn't pass as cisgender), they do not have a problem with me being transgender, nor do they care when I wear something with the trans pride flag. They might vote in a way that's extremely detrimental to my rights because that's their team and their tribe that they identify with, but most have been completely respectful towards me and do not understand how their vote impacts my life. It doesn't actually win Republicans over to engage in transphobic rhetoric because most of them genuinely do not care and are only concerned with bread and butter issues.
Andy Beshear is right: throwing the transgender community under the bus is a political mistake—and the recent record gives us plenty of reason to question whether this strategy works.
Beshear has already shown that a Democrat can stand up for transgender Kentuckians even in a deeply Republican state. In 2025, he vetoed legislation that would have restricted Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care and reversed his protections against conversion therapy.
Look at Virginia as well. Republican campaigns made transgender issues a major part of their advertising, while Democratic campaigns focused heavily on issues such as the economy and health care. The 2025 results provide no evidence that anti-trans attacks were a magic formula for winning elections.
Democratic politicians need to understand something fundamental: transgender Americans are voters, too. LGBTQ+ families are voters, their friends are voters, and their allies are voters.
You cannot build a winning coalition by telling one group of people that their rights are expendable whenever an election gets difficult.
Stand for your principles. Treat transgender Americans with dignity. And remember: every person has a vote—and every vote counts.
Thank goodness.
All of my friends and relatives in KY love this guy. I see why!
Andy Beshear's secret weapon is that he has core beliefs that that don't change based on consultants and polling. More than any particular policy, I think that's what is lacking in far too many politicians today. It doesn't hurt that his Christian faith begins with "Every person is a child of God." and continues with "What you do for the least of these, you do for me." It steals the thunder of the Christian Nationalists. I'd love to see my Governor Andy on the national ticket in 2028.
“We don’t throw anybody under the bus. That is not the party that we are.”
Best message so far. However, the midterm results will be the first sign of where we’re heading as a country and as a people.