Voters in Arizona and Nebraska have approved ballot measures restricting transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that match their gender identity, while similar measures in Washington and Colorado were leading in early returns as of Tuesday’s midterm elections, though votes were still being counted.
In Arizona, a state currently led by a Democratic governor and represented by two Democratic senators, voters approved an initiative that expands the state’s existing ban on transgender athletes in women’s school sports. The measure also adds restrictions on locker-room use and defines a person’s sex based on their original birth certificate.
Nebraska voters went further, adding a similar ban directly to the state’s constitution.
In Washington, a ballot measure would prohibit students who were assigned male at birth from competing in sports designated for female students only, according to language reported by the New York Times. Students seeking to participate would be required to provide a statement from a health care provider verifying their sex. That measure had not been officially called as of this writing but appeared likely to pass.
Colorado’s initiative was also trending toward passage, though it too remained uncalled.
The results come amid a broader push on the issue at the federal level. President Donald Trump has pursued a series of policies restricting transgender participation in sports and other areas since returning to the White House.
The outcomes are notable because all four states lean Democratic, and the party has generally supported allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams matching their gender identity. The ballot results suggest that position may be out of step with voters even in states Democrats otherwise carry.
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