2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls have dodged basic questions on transgender issues, including ‘can a man become a woman?’
Two-thirds of U.S. voters—and a plurality of those who backed Kamala Harris in 2024—oppose allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports, according to a new poll.
The Economist/YouGov poll conducted between Jan. 23 and Jan. 26 found that 43 percent of Kamala Harris’s 2024 voters oppose allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports, compared with just 39 percent who support it. Overall, 67 percent of voters oppose the policy, while just 22 percent support it.
The results come as top Democrats appear wary to address transgender issues. Axios recently asked leading 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls basic questions like, “Should transgender girls be able to participate in girls’ sports? Do you believe transgender youths under age 18 should be able to be placed on puberty blockers and hormones? And what is your response to the question: ‘Can a man become a woman?'” Nearly 20 Democrats declined to comment, including Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, and Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.).
Only three contenders responded: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, and former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg. Emanuel said “no” when asked whether biological men should compete in women’s sports and whether a man can become a woman. Shapiro acknowledged that male athletes may have an unfair advantage over female competitors, and Buttigieg questioned what he called his party’s “past orthodoxies” on sports, referring to his past comments about how local officials and “experts” should make the decisions.
While Democratic contenders dodge the issue, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority has signaled it is likely to uphold state laws barring biological men from competing in women’s sports. During oral arguments earlier this month in cases from West Virginia and Idaho, several justices emphasized that federal law has long permitted sex-separated teams to ensure fair competition.
Some Democratic commentators admonished potential candidates for dodging the question. “Pathetic,” wrote former CNN analyst Chris Cillizza. “Take a position and just defend it!” Democratic strategist Liam Kerr agreed, telling Axios that candidates should have “a clear answer, whatever it is.”
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