Transgender Rights Prevail: Historic Wins and Crushing Defeats in 2023 Election Results

Despite Republicans using transphobic ads and messaging in key swing races, they continued to lose, indicating that anti-trans attacks remain unpopular. In Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear won a second term, with many Republican attacks focusing on his vetoing of anti-trans bills. Similar losses were seen in Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where conservative candidates who relied on anti-trans messaging were defeated. LGBTQ rights were also a key issue in the battle for the school board in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where Democrats retook the board after conservatives had banned books by queer authors and Pride flags in classrooms. Virginia saw the election of Danica Roem as the state's first openly transgender state senator, contributing to Democrats taking full control of the state legislature.