Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Wins Re-election Despite GOP Attacks on Trans Issues
In an unexpected turn of events, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has managed to secure his re-election victory despite facing millions of dollars in attack ads from conservative groups that targeted his stance on transgender issues. The result serves as a clear indication that transphobia is not a winning strategy for Republicans and highlights the need for a shift in their electoral approach.
One of the main conservative anti-trans organizations that launched attack ads against Beshear is the American Principles Project, led by Terry Schilling, a known transphobe. The group spent a staggering $2.2 million in an attempt to discredit Beshear after he vetoed two bills aimed at transgender children. However, their efforts fell flat in the predominantly red state of Kentucky, as Beshear secured an easy victory over his Republican challenger, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
This outcome serves as a powerful reminder that transphobia does not resonate with voters and that it may be time for the trans-obsessed faction within the GOP to rethink its electoral strategy. The focus on transgender issues by conservatives in recent years has been seen as an attempt to replicate the success they had with attacking gay marriage in the 2004 elections, which secured Ohio and a second term for President George W. Bush. But the traction gained from conservative media hit pieces on trans women in sports and gender-affirming care for minors did not translate into electoral wins this time around.
Another example of the failure of transphobic messaging in elections is seen in Ohio, where Protect Women Ohio, a religious conservative group, spent millions on ads leading up to an August election. The aim was to raise the threshold to 60% support from voters in order to amend the state constitution. The group used fear tactics, including a drag queen reading to a classroom, to convince voters that this measure was a gateway to Democrats imposing transgender issues on children. Ultimately, Ohio voters rejected the proposal, and 56% voted in favor of protecting abortion access in the constitution. Republicans, hesitant to argue in favor of their own abortion restrictions, instead chose to make the election about trans issues.
It is evident that conservatives have been struggling to connect with suburban voters across the country in recent election cycles. The Supreme Court’s potential overturning of Roe v. Wade, as desired by Republicans, and other extremist policy ideas have not resonated with voters who simply want to live their lives without interference. The Republican strategy of demonizing trans people in an attempt to win support has proven to be unsuccessful.
While some local success has been seen with extremist candidates elected to school boards implementing harsh policies targeting transgender students, this off-year election cycle has witnessed a rejection of such policies. Moderate candidates emphasizing equality and rejecting claims of hidden agendas have triumphed in places like Loudoun County and Fairfax, Virginia, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This outcome highlights the fact that trans issues do not hold much weight for voters, especially when they personally know and interact with trans individuals.
The Kentucky gubernatorial election outcome marks another defeat for Terry Schilling and the American Principles Project, which have continually attacked Democrats on trans issues. These ads have consistently failed to propel conservatives to victory. Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory’s loss in the 2016 race, where he signed the controversial HB2 bathroom bill, is one of the most notable examples of transphobia backfiring in elections. Additionally, anti-trans candidates have regularly lost in swing-state races over the past two election cycles, except in heavily gerrymandered red districts. Even Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a prominent transphobe within the Republican Party, has struggled to find a successful campaign message.
It is unlikely that Republicans will abandon their transphobic strategy, especially at the state level, this late in the game. However, it is crucial to challenge the notion that trans issues are a complicated and dangerous election topic for Democrats. The lack of personal connections with trans individuals, combined with the failure of conservative attempts to demonize them, diminishes the power of transphobic arguments. As society becomes more familiar with trans people as individuals, the potency of GOP attacks on trans rights weakens. It is high time that we recognize transphobia as an election loser, even if Republicans have not come to this realization yet.
