Transmissions: An election lesson in 2025

An intriguing story developed on election night last week.

In Virginia, Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger won her race for governor, beating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. Earle-Sears spent a reported 57% of her advertising funds on anti-trans attacks against Spanberger, in line with anti-trans ads that targeted Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris last November.

But the outcome was very different; it was a shellacking. Spanberger won by nearly 15 points, and a vast majority of the state legislative races went to Democratic candidates.

Likewise, in New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli attempted to paint his opponent, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, as a radical, taking a quote about the removal of books from the Naval Academy out of context. Sherrill, like Spanberger, won big over Ciattarelli.

No win was bigger, however, than in New York City, where Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the mayor’s race.

Let me pull back for a moment. As I recently discussed, a 19th News/Survey Monkey poll published in September found that four in 10 Americans want politicians to stop focusing on transgender issues. I have argued that this means that the right has overplayed its anti-trans hand, even while Democratic pundits and think tanks like Third Way have argued that it is the left that needs to stop talking about transgender issues in order to moderate its position.

Apparently, I was correct. Anti-trans attacks, which have waned in success over the last decade, clearly failed in 2025. Even more so, rather than just remaining silent – or, like California Governor Gavin Newsom, moving to a more anti-trans platform – it may be time for the left to take pro-trans steps.

Unlike many other races, in New York City, Mamdani was attacked over a whole lot more than any false trans attack ads – and in large part because he was unapologetic about his pro-trans stance. Throughout his campaign, and all the way back to when he was virtually unknown in the race, he has been willing to stand with, and speak out on, trans rights. Further still, late in the race, he released a two-minute video on the late trans icon Sylvia Rivera, highlighting her struggles in a way unheard of from any politician.

His view, which was clear and unmistakable, was that trans rights mattered. He didn't try to excuse things away, or hide from the issue like so many others on the left. While I do not think his support for the trans community was exactly what won him the mayor’s race, I do think his boldness on trans issues was an ingredient in the victory.

In the moments after his win, too, he did not back down.

"Here, we believe in standing up for those we love," said Mamdani during his victory speech. "Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many Black women [President Donald] Trump has fired, a single mom waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with your back against the wall. Your struggle is ours too."

It was refreshing, given that so many candidates have shied away from even mentioning trans people, let alone speaking out so often during his campaign.

 
Also, I just want to take a moment and contrast his comments with those we heard a lot during the previous presidency, even as we saw anti-trans sentiment very much on the rise.

"To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially the young people, you're so brave," Democratic President Joe Biden said way back in April 2021. "I want you to know your president has your back."

Biden would repeat similar lines about having transgender peoples' backs as his presidency continued, but the sentiment rang hollower with each utterance.

Yet, there was more to it. The phrase belied a power differential, where a party had the power to protect us, but would only offer an ort of that power, perhaps as a treat, when things looked the bleakest. Indeed, we usually heard it at times when our backs were against the wall.

Those who have read this column know that I often rebuke political statements with the Latin phrase, "Acta Non Verba." Essentially, this translates to "Actions, Not Words." I said it a lot when the "I have your back" chestnut was trotted out, because so often it was just pretty words.

I know that substantive, robust trans protections would have been near impossible to fashion during Biden's tenure, but I still never felt much was being done to even attempt such. I would argue, too, that the very inaction on transgender issues helped contribute to the allure of anti-trans animus on the right. Not addressing trans issues meant the right could fabricate what they wanted people to believe the left’s stance actually was.

Meanwhile, look at Mamdani's statement. Trans people were addressed alongside others who are struggling. Immigrants, those who have lost their jobs under Trump, the poor. We are included.

Additionally, the statement is one of collective struggle. It's not a powerful body handing down a pithy statement to transgender people, but it is saying that he will stand – and is standing – alongside us. More than this, Mamdani has already been doing the work. It's not just words, but actions.

Now, I'll admit I am a bit jaded. I feel that the establishment Democrats, the political pundits, the party operatives, and so on will still try to say that the left should abandon trans people, even as all evidence says otherwise. They have been beating that drum very hard this year, and it would be challenging for them to swerve right now.

Yet, we should look to the wins of Spanberger, Sherrill, and others showing that the people are tired of anti-trans attack ads, and to Mamdani's victory proving that supporting trans causes truly is a winning move.

Gwen Smith is hungry for a change. You'll find her at www.gwensmith.com .