TOLEDO — The national advertising war over transgender policies is roiling an Ohio congressional race. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur is facing pushback from Democrats in her own backyard over campaign ads noting she “voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of schools.”
The Democratic Party in Lucas County — home to Kaptur’s hometown of Toledo — called on her Tuesday to take down the ads, saying she had “stooped” to the level of Republicans. Kaptur’s campaign stood by the general message of the ads, saying she “supports parents having more insight into their children’s education.”
The flap comes amid a flood of such advertising nationally. According to data from AdImpact, GOP advertisers have spent more than $60 million airing more than 190 TV ads referencing transgender policies since the start of the year, and some Democrats are changing how they respond.
LGBT advocacy group Equality Ohio changed its rating of Kaptur from “B” to “D” after her latest ads. The group also downgraded Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton from “A” to “B” after Acton said in June that she does “not support boys playing in girls’ sports.”
Kaptur’s redrawn district went for President Donald Trump by almost 11 points in 2024, making her one of the most endangered House Democrats in the country. How she navigates the culture-war ad battle could shape one of the cycle’s marquee races.