In line with certain conservatives and President Donald Trump, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego has stated support for biologically-based divisions in girls' sports that would exclude transgender athletes.
In an interview with The Dispatch that was released on Thursday, Gallego acknowledged the welfare of transgender students but also raised concerns about safety and competitive fairness.
In support of local decision-making, the Democratic senator proposed that "local institutions" decide whether and how to apply biological separations in school sports. Recent Democratic congressional attempts to provide federal protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity are different from this strategy.
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Despite upholding his stance on sports, Gallego underlined the value of treating transgender kids with acceptance.
"Hey, listen, we love you. Let's find other activities for you to participate in because we want you to be a part of our community, but this is the only area you can't play," Gallego said.
The senator's comments differ from the Democratic Party's usual stance on transgender rights. This change coincides with continued difficulties for the Democratic brand in public polling, as political analysts point to Gallego's election triumph in Arizona, a state that Trump won by more than 5 percentage points in 2024.
Since joining the Senate, Gallego has shifted his political views from his time in the House of Representatives, where he frequently criticized Trump's first term in office and backed leftist policies. His recent changes from standard Democratic positions have garnered attention as likely to lead to his future political ambitions, including speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run.
Gallego is now a well-known freshman senator who is setting himself apart from mainstream Democratic stances on a number of issues thanks to these policy changes.
