One of the most at-risk House Democrats in the upcoming 2026 election, Rep. Marcy Kaptur from Ohio, is facing criticism from both sides regarding her views on transgender youth.
Kaptur, a seasoned politician, is navigating a tough re-election fight. This situation has been exacerbated by recent redistricting in Ohio that has brought more Republican voters into her district.
In an effort to connect with these voters, Kaptur has been distributing campaign materials highlighting her opposition to biological males participating in girls’ sports. One mailer she sent out stated, “Unlike the far left, I believe boys shouldn’t play girls’ sports,” according to documents seen by Fox News Digital.
Her critics have pointed out that Kaptur “voted to ban schools from promoting gender ideology in classrooms.”
Kaptur referenced her May vote in support of the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, which ties federal funding to public elementary and middle schools based on whether they obtain parental consent for any sex or gender accommodations.
She emphasized this vote in a campaign advertisement, saying, “I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools, because parents know best for their kids. And boys should not play in girls’ sports.”
However, House Republicans noted that she is also a proponent of the Equality Act, which aims to prevent discrimination in public schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Kaptur has co-sponsored that legislation, which adds an interesting twist to her current campaign strategy.
Interestingly, she previously opposed the GOP-backed Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in two instances—April 2023 and January 2025—which did not receive any Democratic support during the earlier vote.
Zach Bannon, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, argued, “Lies from desperate Democrat Marcy Kaptur can’t erase her radical record. Kaptur is in damage control, and she must remove herself as a co-sponsor of the Equality Act and disavow her previous votes or remove her lies from the airwaves.”
This mixed approach is causing friction not only with her Republican opponents but also within her own party. Ohio progressives have accused her of betraying transgender youth for electoral gain. Equality Ohio, an LGBTQ advocacy group, gave her a “D” for her recent anti-trans advertisements.
Some activists took to an open letter to express their disapproval of Kaptur, stating, “Shame on you and your campaign staff for pushing this incredibly harmful anti-Trans rhetoric.”
A journalist’s opinion piece in the Buckeye Flame, an LGBTQ publication, reflected similar sentiments, with the writer expressing embarrassment over Kaptur’s association with their résumé.
Kaptur has managed to maintain her Toledo-area seat through various redistricting attempts for over forty years. Yet, with the heightened focus on voter turnout this election cycle, it’s uncertain how her position on these issues will play out. Fox News Digital reached out to her campaign for comments but didn’t get a response.
