Democratic super PAC hammers GOP over trans bathroom focus

A Democratic super PAC is hammering Republicans over their focus on transgender issues as GOP candidates in battleground races invoke culture war issues against their Democratic opponents in the final stretch of the midterm cycle.

Progress Action Fund released a new ad on Tuesday, first shared with The Hill and part of an ad buy worth more than $1 million, that portrays a generic Republican congressman tasked with checking whether girls are using a bathroom that aligns with their biological sex.

In the 30-second ad called “Republicans In Your Bathroom,” a girl walks into a bathroom stall, screaming when she realizes a GOP congressman is waiting in the stall for her.

“I’m your Republican congressman,” the generic lawmaker says to the girl after she asks what he’s doing in the stall. “Now that we’re in charge, I’m checking to make sure there’s no trans people in the wrong bathroom.”

“Bathrooms are private. Don’t you have anything better to do?” she asks.

“I won the last election, and this is my priority,” the lawmaker replies. “Now, let’s make sure you’re really a girl.”

The ad is scheduled to air on connected TV and streaming services in Texas and Ohio two weeks out from Election Day. Both states are home to competitive Senate and House races that will determine the majorities in both chambers.

“Americans want their elected officials to lower gas prices and end the war in Iran, not follow them into the f–king restroom,” Progress Action Fund executive director Joe Jacobson said in a statement. “Republicans are creepy as hell. Democrats need to grow a spine and call Republicans out for their creepy fetish of monitoring children’s bathrooms.”

Republican candidates have leaned into transgender issues, particularly the debate into whether transgender girls and women can play on sports teams that align with their gender identity, as a major attack line against Democrats.

Republican Ken Paxton, who is facing off against Democrat James Talarico for the open Texas Senate seat, has attacked the state lawmaker in ads for his past comments on transgender issues, including for saying there’s more than two biological sexes and that he loves trans children.

A polling average of Texas Senate surveys compiled by Decision Desk HQ shows Talarico holds a narrow 2-point edge against Paxton, at 49 percent and 46.8 percent, respectively.

“I know there are two sexes, men and women. I also know there’s a very small percentage of people who have these chromosomal abnormalities, and I believe they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” Talarico told CBS News in May when asked about some of his past remarks.

Another Republican group has also attacked former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) over the issues of gender-affirming care and transgender individuals using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. Brown is locked in a tight battle against Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) in the Buckeye State.

A DDHQ polling average of Ohio Senate surveys shows Brown narrowly leading Husted by over a point. Brown sits close to 48 percent, while Husted sits at 46 percent.

Brown’s campaign responded with its own ad , in which several people, ostensibly Brown supporters, dismiss the attacks and ask why Republicans are focused on the transgender issue before attacking Husted over high costs of living.