Tight-race Democrats run girls' sports ads at odds with their votes, right-leaning outlets report
The New York Post reported that four Democrats in competitive House races are running ads backing fairness in girls' sports, while their votes opposed or sidestepped bans on transgender athletes. Breitbart repeated the report. Both outlets are right-leaning, and the campaigns did not respond to the Post.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1The New York Post reported on 6 October that Democratic candidates in competitive House races are paying for ads presenting themselves as defenders of girls' sports, even though their voting records show support for transgender rights or silence on the issue. New York PostR “Democratic candidates in competitive House races are bankrolling ads claiming they are champions of fairness and willing to buck their party to protect girls’ sports” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), who the Post says is polling neck-and-neck with Republican Derek Merrin, says in an ad: "I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools because parents know what's best for their kids. And boys should not play in girls' sports." New York PostR “I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools because parents know what’s best for their kids. And boys should not play in girls’ sports.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “locked in a tight race against Republican Derek Merrin” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The Post says Kaptur opposed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which bans schools from letting biological males compete in female sports, along with 205 other members of her caucus. New York PostR “opposed — along with 205 other members of her caucus — the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “joining 205 other members of her caucus against the bill” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 2Rep. Don Davis (D-NC) voted "present" on the same bill. In his ad he says states should decide how to protect women and girls, and that "North Carolina has decided". Breitbart says the bill passed 218-206, with two Texas Democrats joining Republicans. New York PostR “That’s why I believe states should decide what’s right for protecting women and girls, and North Carolina has decided.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “which passed 218-206, with two Texas Democrats joining Republicans” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Both outlets note that Kaptur and Davis co-sponsor the Equality Act, which critics say would eliminate sex-based distinctions in sports. New York PostR “Both House Democrats are also co-sponsors of the Equality Act” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “She is also a co-sponsor of the Equality Act, which critics say would eliminate sex-based distinctions in athletics.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Two first-time candidates in Iowa are also named. State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, who is challenging Rep. Zach Nunn (R), says in an ad that she opposes "letting men in women's locker rooms". The outlets say she voted against a 2022 bill barring transgender athletes from girls' sports and a 2023 locker-room measure, both signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Lindsay James, running for the open seat of Rep. Ashley Hinson (R), also opposed both measures in the Iowa House. New York PostR “She also voted against a 2022 bill, which Reynolds also signed, prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “Democratic candidate Lindsay James, running for Rep. Ashley Hinson’s vacant Iowa seat, also opposed both state measures.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1Breitbart says Nunn's campaign responded with its own ad accusing Trone Garriott of rewriting her record. BreitbartR “Nunn’s campaign responded with its own spot accusing her of rewriting her record.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2Both cite a Pew Research Center analysis in which 73% of Americans expressed concern about transgender athletes competing on teams that don't match their sex at birth. It also found 55% of Democrats uncomfortable with the practice, and the Post adds that 44% of Democrats were comfortable with it. New York PostR “Even most Democrats (55%) said they wouldn’t be comfortable with transgender competitors participating on teams that don’t match their birth sex.” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “A Pew Research Center analysis found 73 percent of Americans expressed concern about transgender athletes competing against their birth sex” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The Post says Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot by more than eight points in the RealClearPolitics average, making them favourites to retake the House in the 3 November midterms. Breitbart adds that vulnerable Democrats are recalibrating while candidates in safer seats move the other way, citing socialist nominee Claire Valdez's backing for a "Trans Bill of Rights". New York PostR “Democrats lead by more than eight percentage points on the generic congressional ballot” Read at New York Post ↗ BreitbartR “Socialist nominee Claire Valdez recently affirmed a “Trans Bill of Rights” as a priority if Democrats take the House.” Read at Breitbart ↗
Right · 1The Post says representatives for the Kaptur, Davis, Trone Garriott and James campaigns did not respond to requests for comment, so the candidates' own explanations are not in the coverage. New York PostR “Reps for the Kaptur, Davis, Trone Garriott and James campaigns did not respond to requests for comment.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the ads as a politically motivated backpedal by Democrats, who they say are hiding records on transgender athletes. Breitbart rewrites the Post's report.
- Emphasis
- The gap between ad claims and votes, the Equality Act co-sponsorships, and Pew polling showing public discomfort, including among Democrats.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No candidate or Democratic response. The Post's passing note that Democrats are favoured to retake the House gets little weight, and neither outlet explains the reasons behind the Democrats' votes, such as Davis's stated preference for state-level decisions.
- Charged language
- “backpedal”“biological men”“transgender ideology”“Backpedal Support for Trans Athletes”
- For example
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“Dems in tight races backpedal on trans messaging — after voting to support biological men in women’s sports” — New York Post
“REPORT: Four Dems in Close House Races Backpedal Support for Trans Athletes” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Four Democratic candidates in competitive House races are running ads about fairness in girls' sports.
- Kaptur opposed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and Davis voted "present".
- Trone Garriott and James opposed Iowa bills on transgender athletes in state legislature.
- Pew found 73% of Americans concerned about transgender athletes competing on teams that don't match their birth sex.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the ads are inconsistent with the candidates' records
- Right
- Both outlets say the ads contradict or are undermined by voting records. No candidate response is reported, and Breitbart says the Nunn campaign accuses Trone Garriott of rewriting her record.
Marcy Kaptur person
Kaptur's ad says she voted with Republicans against "transgender ideology" in schools and that boys should not play in girls' sports. The Post says her vote against the sports bill contradicts this. Her campaign did not respond.
“But Kaptur’s voting record in the House shows the opposite.” — New York Post
Democratic Party party
As described by the outlets, vulnerable Democrats are stressing fairness in women's sports, while a Pew poll shows 55% of Democrats uncomfortable with transgender athletes on teams that don't match their birth sex. Breitbart says candidates in safer seats are moving the other way. No party statement is quoted.
“The ads come as vulnerable Democrats across the map recalibrate their messaging ahead of the November midterms” — Breitbart
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Critical Original report that casts the Democrats' ads as contradicted by their records, with polling context and a note that campaigns did not comment.
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REPORT: Four Dems in Close House Races Backpedal Support for Trans Athletes
Critical Short rewrite of the Post's report, adding the vote tally, Nunn's response and the Valdez contrast, and noting reaction on X.
- 6 Oct 19:07 First New York PostR Dems in tight races backpedal on trans messaging — after voting to support biological men in women’s sports
- 7 Oct 04:48 +9h 41m BreitbartR REPORT: Four Dems in Close House Races Backpedal Support for Trans Athletes
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.