Local Democrats rebuke Ohio Democratic congresswoman over ad opposing ‘transgender ideology’ in schools

Local Democratic organizations are criticizing Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and demanding that she withdraw a campaign advertisement promoting parental authority in schools and fairness in girls’ sports.

“I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools because parents know what’s best for their kids,” Kaptur says in the advertisement, adding that “boys should not play in girls’ sports.”

Kaptur, who represents Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, is running against Republican Derek Merrin in one of the country’s most competitive House races. 

Kaptur voted for the Republican-backed Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, which would require federally funded public elementary and middle schools to obtain parental consent before changing a child’s name or pronouns or allowing the child to use bathrooms or locker rooms designated for the opposite sex. The House passed the bill 217-198, with Kaptur among eight Democrats who joined Republicans in supporting it. 

The Lucas County Democratic Party, which has endorsed Kaptur for reelection, called on the congresswoman to remove the ad in a Sept. 22 letter, accusing her campaign of employing “incredibly dangerous anti-trans rhetoric.” 

“This is the type of harmful ad we expect from Derek Merrin and the Republicans,” the letter stated, according to a photo of the party’s Facebook post shared on X. “We are disappointed and ashamed that the Kaptur campaign stooped to their level.”

The party added that it was “confident” Kaptur would “win re-election, but it will be because of her long record of bringing investment to Northwest Ohio and fighting for working people.” 

The Lucas County Stonewall Democrats, a local LGBT Democratic group, separately accused Kaptur of endangering people who identify as “transgender” by pushing “this incredibly harmful anti-Trans rhetoric that now unfortunately plays in countless homes and businesses.”

“Not only do your words create deep emotional harm and place an unnecessary spotlight on our Trans community members, putting them in more danger than they already are given the current climate, but you have also now engaged in a race to the bottom with Republicans,” the organization wrote in a letter to Kaptur that it shared on Facebook. 

Kaptur’s campaign defended the advertisement, saying the congresswoman supports giving parents greater knowledge of and authority over decisions involving their children.

“Marcy supports parents having more insight into their children’s education,” campaign spokesperson Kylie Blitzer said, according to 13ABC. “That’s why she set the record straight on her vote with Republicans to give parents more say in the classroom.”

Blitzer added that Kaptur believes “parents, coaches, and local sports associations — not politicians in Washington — should set the rules in their communities to ensure girls’ sports stay fair.”

Kaptur faced Merrin in 2024, when she prevailed by less than one percentage point. 

Redistricting has since made the seat lean more Republican. President Donald Trump would have received approximately 54.8% of the 2024 vote within the district’s new boundaries, compared with 44.2% for former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to an analysis cited by Ballotpedia. The Cook Political Report currently rates the contest a toss-up.