Some Democrats, reeling from Republican attacks tying their party to transgender rights issues, are privately furious at their leaders and explicitly warning they need a better strategy going into 2026.
Campaign ads focusing on transgender issues were some of the most-aired attacks against Democrats, including one prolific spot from Donald Trump with the tagline: “Kamala’s For They/Them. President Trump is for you.” The culture war push also made its way down-ballot, targeting Democratic candidates in competitive House and Senate races. Some Democrats responded directly, while others opted to ignore it.
It’s the latest instance of Democratic infighting after Trump swept every swing state in the election last week. The party is struggling to identify the best way to move forward, with many moderates arguing that identity politics and culture war issues need to take a backseat to prioritizing the country’s economic concerns and worries from working class voters, according to interviews with a dozen House Democrats.
With Republicans likely controlling the legislative agenda in both chambers next Congress, House Democrats are bracing for more votes on transgender issues that will put them on the defensive, such as one on an amendment to ban the coverage of gender transition procedures under a government-funded program. The GOP cut those votes into attack ads to use against battleground members.
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