Democrats distance themselves from trans rights – close midterm races may show whether that pays off

A scholar of LGBTQ+ politics looks at how Democratic campaigns in Texas and Ohio are shifting on trans issues and what that could mean for control of Congress.

By: Dorian Rhea Debussy, The Ohio State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 12, 2026

Words: 1,174

Last Updated: 5 days, 14 hours ago

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By Dorian Rhea Debussy, The Ohio State University

A wave of anti-transgender legislation has appeared in statehouses across the country over the past few years. Now, transgender issues are a recurring topic on the 2026 midterm campaign trail.

As a scholar of LGBTQ+ politics and history, I’ve noticed surprising trends in how Democrats in key states like Texas and Ohio talk about policies focused on transgender people, as the …

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