ICYMI: Failure of Anti-Trans Ads Dominates Post-Election Narrative

Despite warnings from voters and GOP political strategists, MAGA candidates run doomed anti-trans ad campaigns

WASHINGTON, DC - November 10, 2025 - As the fallout from last week's nationwide elections continues to come into focus, one thing is clear: anti-trans ad campaigns were a big loser at the ballot box. In poll after poll, voters said that issues like soaring costs, the education system, health care, and the Trump Administration's mass firings of federal workers were top of mind as they cast their ballots. Nowhere on the radar were anti-trans policies. Electoral alarm bells were ringing so loudly that even Republican leaders warned candidates that "one-note," anti-trans campaigns would fail. On election night, HRC released a memo detailing the impending failure of anti-trans ad campaigns, overwhelming American support for equality, and how pro-equality candidate responses to anti-trans attacks lay out a roadmap to success in elections to come.

A round up of coverage on the collapse of anti-trans ads in the 2025 cycle:

• The 19th: Democrats responded to anti-trans attacks this year - and won
• MSNBC: Democrats' big election wins showed they don't need to hide their support for trans rights
• The New Republic: The GOP Went Big on Anti-Trans Ads This Year. And Guess What Happened?
• The Advocate: Spectacular Republican losses prove MAGA's transphobic playbook doesn't win elections
• The Advocate: LGBTQ+ ally Abigail Spanberger trounces anti-trans Republican to win Virginia governor's race
• NBC4: Virginia's blue wave proves targeting trans students doesn't win, Democrats say
• Virginia Mercury: Democrats say Virginia voters rejected anti-trans platforms
• Them: Election Night Proved Democrats Don't Need to Abandon Trans People to Win
• The Cut: Welcome to Woke 2.0
• Erin in the Morning: "A Stunning Rebuke Of Anti-Trans Politics"-Dems Win Elections Nationwide Despite Anti-Trans Ads
• PINK NEWS: US election results show Americans 'rejecting divisive politics'
• Los Angeles Blade: Prop 50 has passed, with overwhelming support from local voters and LGBTQ+ advocates
• PennLive: Trans and gay candidates prevail with historic wins in 2025 Pa. Races

See HRC's full election night statement here.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.