2 Alabama Democrats Back Women's Sports Ban in 221-203 House Vote
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 22
2 Alabama Democrats Back Women's Sports Ban in 221-203 House Vote
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 22
Summary
Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell joined Republicans to approve a defense-bill amendment barring biological males from girls’ sports in Department of War schools, a break from most House Democrats.
The switch stood out because both Alabama Democrats opposed similar legislation in 2025, and Figures now holds a redrawn district that Republicans have placed on their target list.
The amendment passed 221-203 with five Democrats in support, while Hakeem Jeffries and 202 Democrats voted no, underscoring the party split on transgender athlete policy.
Figures said his position had been consistent and argued his earlier no vote was about safeguarding girls from intrusive sex checks, while Republicans cast the new vote as election-year damage control.
The crossover votes come as polling has shown broad resistance to transgender athletes in women’s sports, including nearly 80% opposition in a 2025 New York Times/Ipsos survey.