Newsom Breaks with Progressives on Trans Athletes in Sports

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is seen as a potential candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, utilized the first episode of his new podcast to voice a stance that diverges from mainstream progressive views by opposing the participation of transgender women and girls in female sports.

In an extensive dialogue with conservative figure Charlie Kirk—founder of the influential group Turning Point USA—Newsom expressed his opinion, aligning with Kirk’s and former President Donald Trump’s oppositions, that allowing transgender women and girls to compete in female sports is a fairness issue.

“I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that,” Newsom stated during his podcast, titled “This is Gavin Newsom.” He further emphasized the matter by reflecting on his sports background, explaining that the fairness argument holds significant weight for him and is fully legitimate.

His comments are part of broader Democratic contemplation following the 2024 elections, which resulted in both a Republican presidency and GOP control of Congress. This has sparked internal party debates about whether cultural topics, such as transgender sports participation, played a role in their electoral setbacks, as contrasted with policies on economy and related issues.

Polling suggests that a significant portion of the public, including a notable majority of Democrats, are not in favor of allowing transgender female athletes to join women’s sports teams. This sentiment was mirrored in a recent poll conducted by New York Times/Ipsos and echoed in 2023 Gallup data highlighting internal Democratic divides over transgender athletes competing in line with their gender identity.

Newsom, who has long established himself as a progressive figure, faced criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates for his remarks. California Assemblyman Chris Ward along with state Senator Caroline Menjivar, who represent the LGBTQ+ legislative caucus, expressed their dismay, while Tony Hoang, from Equality California, labeled Newsom’s stance as disappointing and feared it would contribute to the anxiety within the transgender community.

California’s legislation, which predates Newsom’s tenure as governor, currently mandates that schools must permit transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity. Attempts by Republican lawmakers to challenge this setup have been met with resistance in the heavily Democratic state legislature.

Despite lessened support for broad restrictions on transgender rights, the dialogue around sports remains a cultural pivot Republicans have sought to exploit, as reflected in political rhetoric and recent policy shifts such as the NCAA’s decision to limit women’s sports to those assigned female at birth.

Newsom attempted to balance his comments by acknowledging the mental health struggles faced by transgender individuals, advocating for discourse filled with compassion and understanding while also addressing issues of fairness. It underscores a shift in his political approach compared to his notable action on same-sex marriage as San Francisco’s mayor in 2004, with the national ruling following years later.