WASHINGTON — As results came in around the country Tuesday night, a theme emerged: efforts to use transgender people as political pawns failed. Multiple commentators and observers noted the resounding failure of the barrage of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks on the campaign trail. Candidates who ran transphobic campaigns, like Daniel Cameron in Kentucky and many candidates for the Virginia legislature, were rejected, proving (again) that voters have no interest in the MAGA politics of hate and division.

Here’s what people are saying:

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2018: House Flips with Historic Victories for HRC-Backed, Pro-Equality Candidates Nationwide

2019: Anti-Trans Messaging Falls Flat Across 2019 Races

2020: Equality Wins: Joe Biden Elected President

2022: Equality Voters Stopped the Red Wave, Rejecting Extremism and Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks

2023: Human Rights Campaign Celebrates Election Night Victories as Voters in Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky Kick ‘MAGA’ to the Curb, Rejecting Threats to Civil Rights and Freedom

Roundup of U.S. Public Opinion on LGBTQ+ Rights:

• According to polling from The 19th and SurveyMonkey, the vast majority of Americans — 7 in 10 — think that politicians are not informed enough about abortion and gender-affirming care to create fair policies. In addition, Two national surveys this year report that a majority of Americans oppose bans on gender-affirming care (NPR/Marist on 3/20-23, 2023 and Grinnell College National Survey on 3/14-19, 2023).

• Americans believe the amount of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is excessive, agreeing it is “Political Theater.” Polling indicates that 64% of all likely voters, including 72% of Democrats, 65% of Independents, and 55% of Republicans think that there is “too much legislation” aimed at “limiting the rights of transgender and gay people in America.”

• A majority of Americans disapprove of banning LGBTQ+ content in schools – and seem prepared to punish candidates who do so. More than six in 10 Americans say they would be less likely to back a candidate who “supports policies that ban books in schools and in school libraries on subject matter that deals with sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity”

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