Multiple States Pass Propositions Banning Transgender Athletes From Women’s Sports

The blue wave sweeping the nation during the 2026 midterm elections is widely considered a rejection of President Donald Trump’s agenda. But one of his policies appears to have survived—and gained traction, even in Democratic strongholds.

Voters in Arizona and Nebraska voted overwhelmingly to strengthen statewide bans on transgender athletes participating in women’s and girls sports. As of Wednesday afternoon, bans in Washington and Colorado also were on track to pass, though by smaller margins. 

Arizonans voted to expand an existing statute banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports in the state by a margin of 59% (as of Wednesday afternoon). The measure defines “sex” as a person’s biological sex assigned at birth, and says athletes, coaches, or others could not use any shower rooms, bathrooms, locker rooms, or other private facilities that didn’t correspond with their sex.

Voters in Nebraska enshrined a ban as an amendment to the Nebraska state constitution by a 68% margin. The ban requires all public K-12 schools and colleges (and any private schools that compete against them) to designate a gender for each sports team, adding that teams designated for women ”shall not be open to students of the male sex.” The measure codifies a state law passed in 2025.

Meanwhile, bans in Washington and Colorado were trending toward passing as of Wednesday afternoon, though both races were technically too early to call. Both states lean Democrat and currently have (or just elected) Democratic governors and senators.

Washington’s ban would require school districts and nonprofits running interscholastic sports to prevent athletes assigned male at birth from participating on sports teams designated for women or girls. It would also require participants on women’s sports teams to provide a statement from a healthcare provider verifying their sex. 

Colorado’s ban would require K-12 schools, colleges, and athletic associations to designate teams as male, female, or co-ed, and to prevent athletes from participating on teams that don’t match the sex they were assigned at birth.