Newsom calls trans sports participation ‘unfair’ — And 65% of Californians agree

Sacramento, California – A majority of Californians — including a significant portion of Democrats — believe transgender athletes should play on sports teams that match their sex assigned at birth, according to a new poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).

The survey found that 65% of likely voters support restricting athletes to teams that correspond to their birth sex rather than their gender identity. Notably, nearly half of Democrats agreed with the idea, a sign of how nuanced and divided public opinion is on the issue — even in a reliably blue state like California.

PPIC survey director Mark Baldassare said the findings highlight a growing rift within the Democratic Party. “The big finding there is a Democrat split on the issue, which was kind of interesting in light of some of the discussions that have been occurring amongst Democrats on the topic,” he said.

The issue has garnered national attention but exploded in California after Gov. Gavin Newsom said on his podcast that allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports is “deeply unfair.” While Newsom later walked back the statement as not being part of “some grand design,” his comments sparked backlash and drew attention to California’s stance on transgender athlete participation.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, a moderate Democrat, echoed similar concerns while expressing sympathy for transgender individuals being used as political “punching bags.” Speaking to POLITICO, Mahan said, “My daughter is now a soccer player. I have some discomfort with the idea that she might be competing against biological males.”

Despite growing concern among voters and some Democratic leaders, state legislators have largely rejected attempts to codify restrictions. Two Republican-backed bills aiming to ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports failed to pass through the Assembly earlier this year. A similar bill is expected to be voted down in a Senate panel next week.

The poll also explored other education-related topics. Sixty-four percent of adults and over 70% of public school parents oppose former President Donald Trump’s proposal to shut down the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, the same majority agrees with restrictions on transgender athletes and expressed concern about federal immigration enforcement in schools with undocumented students.

Other key findings include a general sense of dissatisfaction with the direction of public education in the state: 51% said K-12 education is headed in the wrong direction, and 48% of adults said state funding for local schools is insufficient. About 60% are concerned about how declining enrollment could impact school budgets.

The PPIC survey reflects responses from around 1,500 California adults and provides a snapshot of the complex and evolving views among the state’s electorate.