When Democratic U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego defeated MAGA hardliner Kari Lake in November, it was seen as a defining victory for progressives. Arizona sent its first Latino U.S. senator to Washington, D.C. — a Marine veteran, the son of immigrants, and a longtime LGBTQ+ ally — in the same election cycle that handed President Donald Trump a second term. Gallego flipped the seat previously held by independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a former Democrat and the first out bisexual member of the Senate. For many LGBTQ+ voters, his win felt like a turning point. But six months into his Senate term, that celebration is giving way to concern.
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In a Thursday interview with The Dispatch, Gallego said it was “legitimate” to restrict transgender girls from participating in some school sports and suggested those decisions be left to “local institutions.”
“We love you. We want you to be part of our community,” he said, “but this is just the one place you can’t play. Let’s find other activities for you to be involved.”
Related: Meet the Democrat who beat MAGA Republican Kari Lake to replace bi lawmaker Kyrsten Sinema in the U.S. Senate
His comments, which echo the rhetoric of conservative politicians and align with policies pushed by the Trump administration, represent a significant shift from the campaign he ran — and from the promises that helped secure his win.
In April 2024, the Human Rights Campaign endorsed Gallego for Senate, calling him a “proven” ally who had fought Arizona’s same-sex marriage ban, stood against “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and co-sponsored the Equality Act.
“The Human Rights Campaign is a critical partner in the fight for justice,” Gallego said at the time. “I’m proud to have earned their endorsement.”
Today, his stance appears out of step with the very legislation he once championed. The Equality Act would expand nondiscrimination protections based on gender identity in education, housing, and public accommodations. When asked if the bill should be revised, Gallego told The Dispatch he’d “have to go back and look at” it.
In 2023, as a member of the House of Representatives, Gallego voted against Republican-led legislation to restrict transgender athletes — a move that the National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly attacked. In June 2023, the NRSC accused Gallego of being “completely out of touch with the Arizonans he wants to represent.”
The shift isn’t limited to LGBTQ+ rights. Gallego has praised Trump’s approach to border enforcement, proposed new barriers at the border, and released an immigration plan that provides no pathway to citizenship for the majority of undocumented immigrants. He has also dropped support for Medicare for All, saying the need “just isn’t there anymore.”
Gallego’s office did not immediately respond to The Advocate’s request for comment.
HRC pointed to other high-profile Democrats who are standing with transgender people and against Republican attacks on a marginalized community.
“Every kid, no matter who they are or what zip code they live in, deserves safe, welcoming places to play and learn the values of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance,” HRC national press secretary Brandon Wolf said in a statement to The Advocate. “But MAGA attacks on everything from essential healthcare to book bans to sports continue to target transgender youth in order to divide communities and distract from their failures. In the face of these attacks, allies to the LGBTQ+ community must have the courage and commitment to stand up for what’s right.”
“We’ve seen that from champions like Govs. Janet Mills, JB Pritzker, and Tim Walz, who have boldly called out the bullies who try to harm our kids for political gain,” Wolf added. “Because no one’s political ambitions will be buoyed by betraying our most vulnerable communities.”
Related: Donald Trump bans transgender athletes from playing sports
Gallego isn’t the only Democrat recalibrating. In March, California Gov. Gavin Newsom faced fierce backlash for agreeing with far-right commentator Charlie Kirk that trans girls competing in sports was “deeply unfair.” Though Newsom’s office later claimed he still supports trans rights, Equality California and the LGBTQ+ caucus in the state legislature condemned his rhetoric as validating hate.
Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, has also come under fire. After the 2024 election, he told The New York Times he didn’t want his daughters “getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.” In a follow-up interview with The Advocate in November, Moulton insisted he wasn’t attacking trans people but warned that Democrats were losing the messaging war by avoiding cultural debates.
