Anti-trans ballot measures pass in four states despite Democratic midterm wave

Transgender rights appeared on ballots in at least seven states during the 2026 midterm elections, covering issues from marriage equality to bans on trans inclusion in sports. While Democrats achieved sweeping victories nationwide in what commentators called a blue wave, the results on single-issue ballot measures did not follow the same partisan pattern.

Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington state all gave voters the chance to decide whether transgender children should be banned from school sports. Arizona’s measure also sought to bar trans children from single-sex spaces matching their gender identity. None of the measures included exceptions for intersex children.

“Ballot measures are a function of funding more than anything and are wildly undemocratic. These votes against us should not be used as justification to throw us under the bus.”

Arizona’s Proposition 318 passed, according to the first source. Measures in Nebraska, Washington and Colorado either passed or were expected to pass, according to the second source. Nebraska voters enshrined what one outlet described as trans sports discrimination in the state constitution.

The split outcome reflects the nature of ballot measures, which are single-issue and carry no party affiliation. Party loyalties and dissatisfaction with the ruling party therefore play a smaller role, while misinformation campaigns can influence voters to support initiatives they might otherwise reject.

LGBTQ+ advocates expressed disappointment and warned against using the results to abandon transgender people. Chase Strangio of the ACLU said ballot measures function more as a matter of funding than democracy and are wildly undemocratic. Maia Monet, a transgender resource manager in Central Florida, said election night was terrible for trans people nationwide and that celebrations ignored their plight.

Legal challenges remain possible even after voters approve a measure. Since 1995, state and federal courts have overturned 57 ballot measures, leaving the door open for future court battles over the newly approved restrictions.