GOP candidates in Virginia stress biology in school bathroom clash, Dems evade issue
Republican Candidates in Virginia Speak Out Against Transgender Bathroom Policies
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Republican candidates for statewide office in Virginia are siding with parents who are upset over school transgender bathroom policies, while their Democratic rivals stay largely silent. Fox News Digital reached out to the 2025 candidates for Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general to ask about their views on transgender students’ access to bathrooms.
Candidates in the Democratic Party either failed to respond to Fox News Digital’s repeated inquiries about the matter or avoided speaking directly about it, despite the issue garnering national headlines this month.
Republican Candidates Take a Stand
“Biological differences matter,” GOP Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears told Fox News Digital when reached for comment about the controversial issue. “It is not political. It’s common sense, and somebody has to stand up and speak for parents.”
The inquiries came after five Virginia school districts were designated “high-risk” by the Department of Education earlier this month over their decision to continue letting students use facilities based on their gender identity. They also followed this month’s suspension of two high school-aged males who were accused of sexual harassment after they complained about a transgender-identifying biological female using their locker room.
Meanwhile, Earle-Sears’ running mate, GOP candidate for lieutenant governor John Reid, was also quick to respond to the issue.
“Students shouldn’t be punished for speaking up about fairness and safety in their own locker room,” Reid responded when asked about the boy’s suspension. “This is what happens when unchecked ideology overrides common sense—kids get silenced instead of protected.”
Democratic Candidates Remain Silent
Candidates from the Democratic Party, including former Rep. Abigail Spanberger who is running for governor against Earle-Sears, did not respond to inquiries about their stance on transgender bathroom policies. Spanberger’s spokesperson criticized Earle-Sears’ record on public school funding and student achievement but did not directly address the issue at hand.
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, running for lieutenant governor, and Jay Jones, an attorney running for attorney general, also did not respond to requests for comment on the topic.
Implications for Virginia Schools
As a result of the Department of Education’s designation of five Northern Virginia school districts as “high risk,” their funding will now be subject to “reimbursement status,” meaning the districts will have to pay all expenses upfront and then subsequently request reimbursements from the federal government.
“States and school districts cannot openly violate federal law while simultaneously receiving federal funding with no additional scrutiny,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The debate over transgender bathroom policies in Virginia continues to be a contentious issue in the state’s upcoming elections, with Republican candidates voicing their opposition while Democratic candidates remain largely silent.
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