Several vulnerable House Democrats are breaking with their party to support measures barring transgender athletes from women's sports, as Republicans keep the issue prominent ahead of November's US midterm elections. The shift comes after some of these same lawmakers had previously opposed similar legislation, suggesting growing unease among Democrats in competitive districts about the political risks of their party's prior stance on the issue.

The report notes that Alabama Democrats backed an NDAA amendment barring men from competing in women's sports, part of a wider pattern of House Democrats siding with Republicans on the issue as party unity frays. The move follows the Supreme Court's decision upholding state bans on transgender athletes in girls' sports, and comes as Republicans continue to press the topic as a wedge issue in competitive races.