Trump presses Democrats on transgender athletes as battleground Senate Dems call it quits 

President Donald Trump has identified what he says is a winning issue for Republicans, as retirements are hurting Democrats’ prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. 

Trump recently credited his opposition to transgender-identifying males competing in women’s sports for his electoral success, as Democrats either defended or evaded the issue. 

“Who would allow men to play in women’s sports? And they’re still fighting it … It’s gotta be a 95% issue,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “But they’re on television this morning, I see this person, a Democrat, say, ‘We should have the right …’ No, no. Men should not be allowed – they’re hurting women. They’re hurting women. Very badly, they’re hurting women … And they’re also demeaning women. 

“But who would want these things? Everything is transgender. Everybody transgender. That’s all you hear about. That’s why we won the election in record numbers.” 

A January 2025 New York Times poll found 79% of Americans oppose male athletes competing in women’s sports, while just 18% support it. 

Yet, only two congressional Democrats out of over 250 supported the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025. The act passed the House but failed in the Senate in a party-line vote. 

More recently, Democrats have claimed they oppose federal intervention on the issue and that schools and local sports leagues should handle it. 

Republicans currently hold a 53 to 47 majority in the Senate. While the minority party often makes gains in midterm elections, recent retirements announced by Democrats may hurt their chances of taking the chamber back. 

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, Tina Smith, D-Minnesota, and Gary Peters, D-Michigan, have all announced they won’t run again next year. All three come from battleground states. 

“Believe me, I am not retiring,” Shaheen said in a video Wednesday. “I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond to continue to try to make a difference for the people of New Hampshire and this country.” 

Former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Massachusetts, and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, also a Republican, may run for Shaheen’s seat, The New York Sun reports. 

Democrats not seeking re-election could mean the party won’t win a Senate majority anytime soon, The Sun speculates. 

The party would need to defend its open seats, unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, re-elect Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, and win at least three seats in states Trump won to regain control of the Senate. Their best chances would come in states such as North Carolina, Texas, Ohio and Iowa, the Sun reports.