New Kaptur ad makes her sound like a Republican
Does Democrat Marcy Kaptur wish she were a Republican?
A new ad makes it sound that way, suggesting that she knows some of her previous positions tied to “transgender ideology” might not sit well with voters, particularly the vaunted “independent voter.”
The long-time Democratic congresswoman, who is locked in a tight re-election bid and is recovering from a hit-and-run crash in Toledo last month, dropped an ad claiming she “voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools because parents know what’s best for their kids and boys should not play in girls’ sports.”
However, Kaptur’s voting record, which includes votes against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in 2023 and 2025, paints a different picture.
In 2024, she voted against a measure that nullified a Department of Education rule passed during former President Joe Biden’s administration to expand federal protections barring sex discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. It also required federally funded schools to address harassment and discrimination against transgender students and employees.
She also co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and so-called “gender identity.” “The legislation would make it unlawful to differentiate among girls and women in sports on the basis of sex for any purpose,” and make participation in any athletic program co-ed or “open sport,” according to a piece in The Washington Post.
Her campaign funding also doesn’t help her make her case. She received $13,000 from the Equality PAC, which supports “gender-affirming health care” for kids, and critics say she has consistently pushed the ideology by either voting or not voting for different bills.
“Failed career politician Marcy Kaptur has no record to run on, so she is resorting to desperate lies that don’t match her radical far-left voting record,” NRCC Spokesman Zach Bannon said in a statement. “Kaptur pushes an extreme and dangerous social agenda on children that is completely out of touch with Ohio values and voters will retire her this fall.”
Kaptur, who has served in Congress, faces off against Republican Derek Merrin in November. The Trump-endorsed Merrin served in the state House from 2016 to 2025.
Republicans added Merrin to the 2026 “MAGA Majority” list, a nationwide initiative by the National Republican Congressional Committee aimed at flipping the map in Republicans’ favor. It focuses on districts Trump won in 2024 and that are represented by Democrats perceived as vulnerable.
