California Governor Gavin Newsom, once a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights, made a surprising admission: Democrats are losing the battle on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
During the first episode of his new podcast This Is Gavin Newsom, the governor told conservative activist Charlie Kirk that the issue was “deeply unfair” and that his party was taking a serious political hit.
“We’re getting crushed on it. Crushed. Crushed,” Newsom said, acknowledging the growing backlash.
This is a stark shift for Newsom, who famously defied his own party two decades ago by issuing same-sex marriage licenses in San Francisco. Now, he’s signaling that Democrats may have miscalculated on trans athletes, particularly in youth and college sports.
A calculated move for 2028?
Newsom’s strategic shift comes as he positions himself for a potential 2028 presidential run. He was surprisingly open with Kirk, even praising a Trump campaign attack ad that used Vice President Kamala Harris’ past support for taxpayer-funded gender transition surgeries for detained immigrants against her.
“She didn’t even react to it, which was even more devastating,” Newsom noted, calling the ad “brutal” and “great”—a statement few Democrats would dare to make.
Cracks in the Democratic narrative?
While Newsom reaffirmed his commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, he also distanced himself from progressive talking points:
- He rejected the term “Latinx”
- He called defunding the police “lunacy”
- He criticized “cancel culture”
- He admitted private doubts from Democratic friends about trans inclusion in sports
His biggest break came when he discussed AB Hernandez, a transgender high school track star whose victory in California has fueled conservative outrage. When pressed by Kirk, Newsom didn’t defend the policy but instead admitted:
“The issue of fairness is completely legit.”
The takeaway: Is Newsom pivoting right?
Newsom’s tone shift on trans issues, crime, and progressive culture wars suggests a calculated repositioning—one that could set him apart in a future Democratic primary. While he stopped short of calling for bans, his willingness to agree with MAGA-world influencers shows a more pragmatic, centrist-friendly approach.
Could this be the beginning of a Democratic shift on trans athletes? Newsom’s words suggest he’s reading the political winds—and they’re not blowing left.
