1 hour ago
NEWYou tin now perceive to Fox News articles!
Several susceptible House Democrats are breaking pinch their statement connected men competing successful women’s sports arsenic Republicans proceed to hammer nan rumor up of November's midterm elections.
Reps. Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., joined Republicans successful voting for an amendment to nan yearly defense argumentation bill Tuesday that would barroom biologic males from participating successful women’s sports successful Department of War-run schools.
The ballot marked a notable displacement for some Alabama Democrats, who opposed akin authorities arsenic precocious arsenic past year, and comes arsenic Republicans’ redistricting efforts person scrambled their re-election prospects.
Figures now represents 1 of nan GOP's apical pickup opportunities aft Alabama's recently drawn legislature representation added much GOP voters to his district, dramatically expanding nan trouble of his re-election bid. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans' run arm, added nan freshman lawmaker to its target database past week.
Congressman Shomari Figures, D-Ala., speaks astatine a property convention pinch different members of nan House Democratic caucus successful beforehand of nan U.S. Capitol successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 12, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT VOTING RIGHTS RULING IGNITES REDISTRICTING WAR ACROSS SOUTHERN STATES
Sewell’s Black-majority spot anchored astir Birmingham remained mostly unchanged, though she besides bucked Democratic activity connected nan amendment.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and 202 different Democrats voted against nan measure. All Republicans coming voted successful support.
Both lawmakers voted against nan Protection of Women and Girls successful Sports Act successful 2025, which barred federally funded schools from allowing biologic males to participate successful girls' and women’s sports.
The reversal comes arsenic transgender issues proceed to disagreement Democrats, pinch nationalist polling showing wide guidance to transgender athletes competing successful women's sports.
A New York Times/Ipsos poll conducted successful 2025 recovered that astir 80% of Americans opposed biologic males competing successful women's sports. Roughly 7 successful 10 Democrats aliases Democrat-leaning respondents agreed, according to nan survey.
Protesters against transgender athletes competing successful women's sports gathered extracurricular nan Supreme Court successful Washington, D.C., connected Jan. 13, 2026. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
DEMOCRATS STAY QUIET ON NEXT STEPS AFTER SUPREME COURT TRANSGENDER SPORTS RULING
Republicans sharply criticized nan Alabama Democrats' votes, arguing nan move reflected governmental necessity alternatively than a genuine alteration successful position.
"Out of touch Democrats Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell are desperately trying to hide their far-left views now that it's politically expedient, but it's excessively small excessively late," NRCC spokesperson Reilly Richardson told Fox News Digital.
"Alabamians cognize Figures and Sewell support Democrats' extremist schedule of allowing men to compete successful women's sports and will clasp them accountable astatine nan ballot container successful November," he continued.
Figures, however, based on his views connected transgender information successful women's sports person been accordant and pointed to a 2025 amendment ballot restricting transgender athletes that he supported successful a connection to Fox News Digital.
"As I person said before, I do not judge that men should beryllium allowed to participate successful women’s sports," Figures said. "I voted against nan Protection of Women and Girls successful Sports Act because that measure would person created an unfastened play for pedophiles to behaviour activity checks of young girls, pinch nary safeguards."
Proponents of nan measurement disputed during level statement that nan authorities would put girls astatine risk.
Fox News Digital reached retired to Sewell for comment.
Reps. Don Davis, D-N.C., and Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, besides voted pinch Republicans successful favour of nan Mace amendment.
The 3 Democrats, who are each susceptible to GOP challengers, often transverse statement lines to support Republican-authored bills, though Davis voted "present" connected nan Protection of Women and Girls successful Sports Act.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who sponsored nan amendment, based on nan measurement was intended to protect women’s sports.
Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., speaks during a Congressional Black Caucus news convention successful nan U.S. Capitol connected nan Supreme Court's ruling successful Louisiana v. Callais connected Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"Men are not women. Men will ne'er go women. Yet antheral athletes are stealing medals, invading locker rooms, and putting girls successful nan hospital, each successful nan sanction of gender ideology," Mace said Tuesday. "Our NDAA amendment would extremity this nonsense."
