It’s pretty telling when California Gov. Gavin Newsom—arguably the poster child for progressive politics—is the first national Democrat to acknowledge reality.
On the debut episode of his new podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, he admitted what so many parents, athletes and advocates have been saying all along: It is “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. He acknowledged that it’s a tough issue for progressives but admitted it’s profoundly unfair to women and girls, and that Democrats “are getting crushed on it.”
Imagine that. A Democrat finally admitting what should be common sense.
Gov. Phil Murphy constantly touts his vision to make New Jersey more like California. But on this issue, it seems that’s where the imitation stops.
Here in New Jersey, our Democratic leaders still refuse to acknowledge the obvious. Murphy hasn’t said a word about protecting women’s sports. Instead, he has embraced policies that erase opportunities for female athletes and undermine decades of progress under Title IX. And as New Jersey’s next gubernatorial race heats up, the leading Democratic candidates have shown no interest in breaking from his radical stance.
New Jersey Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill had their chance to stand up for female athletes. Instead, they joined fellow Democrats in voting against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would have ensured biological males cannot compete in female athletics at federally funded institutions.
Not surprisingly, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, NJEA President Sean Spiller, and former Sen. Steve Sweeney have remained silent.
And Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop? Instead of acknowledging the issue, he doubled down, insisting it had nothing to do with Democrats’ disastrous showing in November. He’s in denial. Even Newsom sees the writing on the wall.
They are out of step with the vast majority of Americans.
Just ask Payton McNabb, the high school volleyball player who suffered a concussion, brain bleed, and permanent whiplash after a transgender opponent spiked a ball into her face. Or the Connecticut track athletes who lost out on championships and scholarships because they were forced to compete against biological males. Or the thousands of women who have trained their entire lives only to see their records broken and titles taken by male athletes identifying as female.
Democrats had a chance to fix this. They refused.
The American people overwhelmingly disagree with them. A January New York Times poll found that 79% of Americans oppose allowing transgender females to compete in women’s sports—including a 67% of Democrats. A 2023 Gallup poll reported similar numbers. The tide is turning.
If New Jersey Democrats truly want to follow California’s lead, then they should take a page from Newsom’s playbook and acknowledge what’s right in front of them. It’s time for them to stand with female athletes—not radical activists.
So will New Jersey’s Democratic candidates follow Murphy’s lead, or will they finally break ranks and do what’s right?
The choice is clear. The time for excuses is over.
Women’s sports must be protected. We won’t stop fighting until they are.
Vicky Flynn, a Repubican, is a state assemblywoman representing parts of Monmouth County in the 13th Legislative District.
