Kentucky, United States — September 28, 2026
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has criticized Democratic politicians who have argued that transgender athletes should be barred from participating in women's and girls' sports, saying Democrats should not abandon people over a political issue.
Beshear made the comments Sunday during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" with host Jake Tapper, who questioned him about transgender sports policies and the political debate inside the Democratic Party.
'Sports Need to Be Fair'
Beshear said he believes athletic competition should be fair and that there should be no unfair advantage. However, he argued that Kentucky already had athletic rules in place when he vetoed legislation concerning transgender participation in sports.
"We don't throw anybody under the bus," Beshear said during the CNN interview. "That is not the party that we are. We start as a party of compassion and empathy."
He also argued that government intervention in sports could create additional problems, saying: "If we want to ruin sports, put government in charge of them."
Beshear's 2022 Veto
The discussion follows Beshear's 2022 veto of Senate Bill 83, known as the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act." The legislation sought to restrict transgender girls and women from participating on female athletic teams in Kentucky schools and colleges.
In his veto message, Beshear argued that the Kentucky High School Athletic Association already had policies addressing transgender participation and discrimination in interscholastic sports.
The Republican-controlled Kentucky legislature subsequently overrode Beshear's veto, allowing the legislation to become law.
Beshear Says the Bill Was Broader Than Sports
During the CNN interview, Beshear also discussed the broader transgender legislation passed in Kentucky in 2023. He said the legislation he opposed went beyond sports and included restrictions affecting transgender healthcare for minors and parental decision-making.
Beshear pointed to what he described as Kentucky's only transgender athlete at the time, saying she was a seventh-grade student who had started a field hockey team at her middle school to make friends.
Debate Inside the Democratic Party
The issue has become increasingly visible in Democratic politics, particularly as candidates in competitive races face questions about transgender participation in women's sports.
Beshear's comments come after some Democrats in conservative-leaning states and districts have publicly supported restrictions on transgender participation in girls' and women's sports. The governor's position places greater emphasis on avoiding broad exclusion while maintaining that athletic competition should remain fair.
Republican Response
The Republican National Committee criticized Beshear following his CNN appearance. RNC National Press Secretary Natalie Baldassarre accused the governor of prioritizing transgender policy over concerns involving female athletes. Her comments were reported by Fox News.
The response reflects the wider political divide over transgender participation in sports, with Republicans generally advocating greater restrictions and Democrats holding differing positions on how such policies should be addressed.
What Beshear Is Saying
Beshear's latest comments combine two positions: he says sports should be fair and should not provide an unfair advantage, while also arguing that Democrats should not "throw anybody under the bus" and that government should not take control of athletic competition.
The remarks add to Beshear's recent public discussion of LGBTQ+ policy as he presents himself as a pragmatic Democrat while defending his record of vetoing legislation he considers discriminatory.
Editor's Note: This report summarizes Beshear's September 27, 2026 CNN interview and relevant Kentucky legislative records. Statements about the political debate are attributed to the people and sources making them.
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