Republican Candidates for West Virginia Governor Engage in Anti-Transgender Rhetoric Ahead of Primary

In the lead-up to Tuesday’s West Virginia primary, the Republican candidates for governor have been engaging in a heated battle over transgender rights. State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Chris Miller, and Moore Capito have been using TV ads to accuse each other of sympathizing with transgender individuals while promoting their own efforts to restrict LGBTQ rights.

The ACLU of West Virginia has criticized these campaigns, stating that they are focused on demonizing vulnerable people for political gain rather than offering real solutions. Morrisey, in particular, has been vocal about his opposition to transgender rights, advocating for legislation that restricts transgender individuals from participating in sports based on their biological sex.

The ACLU also highlighted the state’s significant resources being used to prevent a single girl from participating in her middle school’s track team, emphasizing the misplaced priorities in the candidates’ campaigns.

The Republican candidates have been trading accusations in their ads, with Morrisey’s super PAC targeting Miller for allegedly supporting pro-transgender events during his time as a board member at Marshall University. Miller, on the other hand, has accused Morrisey of lobbying for a transgender clinic in New York before becoming attorney general.

Capito, another candidate, has focused on banning transgender surgeries on minors and puberty blockers. His campaign ad, “Girl Dad,” criticizes the inclusion of transgender individuals in women’s sports, portraying a less athletic male runner outpacing female competitors.

The rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric among Republican candidates in West Virginia has drawn attention from the ACLU, which has tracked numerous anti-LGBTQ bills in the state. While only one bill has been signed into law, banning transgender and non-binary individuals from changing their sex on their driver’s license, the organization warns that all these bills have harmful implications for LGBTQ individuals.

As the primary approaches, the debate over transgender rights continues to be a central issue in the West Virginia governor’s race, reflecting broader national discussions on LGBTQ rights and discrimination.