Transgenderism may have very well been one of the defining issues in the 2024 election. In fact, according to The New York Times, the now-famous advertisement the Trump campaign circulated, saying, “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you,” may have shifted the election by nearly three points in Trump's favor. Democrats throughout the party have frequently defended transgenders participating in female sports.

Most recently, Democrats in the Senate united to block a bill introduced by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) that would protect girls’ sports from the biological men. In the last handful of years, the legendary coach estimates that trans-identifying men have stolen more than 900 women’s titles competing against females. To advance the bill, Republicans needed to meet the 60-vote threshold, yet not one Democrat defected from the party to support the bill.

However, some Democrats do seem to understand the political liability that comes with supporting trans athletes in female sports. As a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll pointed out, 79% of Americans across party lines support efforts like Tuberville’s. On Thursday, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) became one of the first party leaders to vocalize his concern with the Democrats’ unpopular position during a podcast interview with the CEO of Turning Point USA and conservative media personality Charlie Kirk. Much of their discussion centered around the Democratic Party’s recent failures in this past election.

As part of the sit-down, Kirk pressed Newsom on the issue of trans athletes, asking him, “Would you say no men in female sports?”

To the shock of many, Newsom responded, “I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that.” He emphasized his point by adding, “It’s deeply unfair.”

When asked whether he would speak out against a trans athlete named A.B. Hernandez, who recently won the girl’s triple jump competition at the Ontario Relays Invitational Meet in California by more than eight feet, Newsom explained, “I revere sports, and so the issue of fairness is completely legit.”

He did, however, express his concerns about balancing the concept of fairness while still treating transgenders with “humility and grace,” because, he claimed, they are “more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety, and [have] depression.” Explaining his dilemma, he said, “So, both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think (you know) is inherent in you but not always expressed on the issue?”

Newsom, who, by his own admission, has been a “leader” in the “LGBTQ” movement, encouraged his party to admit that a lopsided playing field is cause for concern. He said, “We’ve got to own that. We’ve got to acknowledge it.”

Newsom’s comments were met with swift repudiation from some liberal politicians. California State Senator Scott Wiener (D) released a response to the governor’s comments on the podcast, saying, “Charlie Kirk is a vile bigot, and standing with him on this issue is profoundly disturbing.”

Regardless of Newsom’s policy flip-flop, many conservatives are skeptical about his change of heart. Former All-American swimmer Riley Gaines posted on X, “Wow. This is the first time I’ve seen Newsom directly asked this question. As you’d expect, he continues to sit on the fence. He admits the unfairness is a problem but won't take meaningful action out of fear of being perceived as unkind.”

In a video posted by Fox News, Gaines reiterated her point and expressed that she is cynical when it comes to the California governor, saying, “Gavin Newsom is clearly angling at a 2028 presidential run.” She continued, “He really has become this legendary fence sitter, continuing to wink at both sides.” She ended the video with a warning for the governor, declaring, “We see you, Gavin Newsom, and we’re watching.”

Meg Kilgannon, senior fellow for Education Studies at Family Research Council, expressed her distrust of the governor’s statement. She told The Washington Stand, “We need to be very skeptical of any claimed conversion on Newsom’s part. He presides over a transgender child sanctuary state of his own creation. He believes children can be born in the wrong body and should be unquestioningly affirmed in changing their sex, to the point of the state of California taking custody from so-called non-affirming parents.”

Kilgannon believes actions speak louder than words and affirmed that by adding, “Let’s not forget the pledge to fight President Trump’s commonsense policies while demanding federal aid for fires exacerbated by crazy California climate change policies. A sitting governor needs to do more than bloviate about fairness on his own podcast before we applaud a change of heart.”

Zachary Gohl serves as an intern at Family Research Council.