Voters widely oppose taxpayer-funded gender surgeries, revealing Democrat Party’s vulnerability: Poll

Taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries continue to be a contentious issue for the Democratic Party, as a recent survey conducted by the American Principles Project (APP) revealed that a majority of likely midterm voters oppose using public funds for such procedures.

Terry Schilling, the executive director of APP, explained that the goal of the survey was to highlight the unpopularity of funding gender identity programs, particularly in healthcare services, among Americans and legislators. The findings showed that even 43% of individuals who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election are against using taxpayer money to finance gender transition procedures, including surgeries and hormone treatments.

Interestingly, the survey also found that nearly two-thirds of Americans are against the federal government funding gender transition procedures, regardless of whether they are for minors or adults. This sentiment is particularly noteworthy given President Joe Biden’s executive order in 2021, which expanded anti-discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity in healthcare and education settings.

The survey results indicate a growing divide within the Democratic Party, as leaders navigate between appeasing the 20 to 30% of the base that supports taxpayer-funded gender transitions and surgeries and appealing to swing voters who are overwhelmingly against such funding. This dilemma poses a challenge for Democrats as they approach the 2026 midterm elections.

Former President Donald Trump’s administration played a significant role in bringing attention to the issue of transgender rights, with high-budget ads targeting transgender women in sports and highlighting Harris’ past support for sex change procedures for incarcerated individuals. This messaging may have resonated with swing voters, as evidenced by the survey results showing that a majority of respondents would vote for a Republican candidate over a Democrat who supports using federal tax dollars for gender transition procedures.

Trump’s actions during his presidency, such as cutting federal funding for gender transition surgeries for minors and implementing policies to ensure transgender individuals serve in the military according to their biological sex, have solidified his stance against what he refers to as “radical gender ideology.”

As the debate over taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries continues to evolve, it is clear that the issue remains a vulnerable point for the Democratic Party. The survey results underscore the importance of understanding and addressing the concerns of voters on this contentious topic as the political landscape shifts leading up to the midterm elections.