Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines narrates a new ad for Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, criticizing opponent Lucas Kunce's stance on transgender issues.
Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer and outspoken critic of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, has taken center stage in a new campaign advertisement for Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. The 30-second ad, obtained by Fox News Digital, features Gaines narrating her experience competing against Thomas, who became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I swimming championship in March 2022.
"As a child, I woke up at 4 a.m. to swim every day. I fought my way to nationals, but then I was forced to compete against a man," Gaines says in the video. "He got the trophy a woman had earned."
Riley Gaines Takes Center Stage in Hawley Campaign Ad
Gaines' appearance in the ad highlights the contentious issue of transgender athletes in women's sports, which has become a rallying point for conservative candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Hawley has been a vocal opponent of transgender rights, and his campaign ad makes it clear that he intends to use the issue to his advantage in the race against Kunce.
In response to the ad, Kunce, a progressive Democrat, released a video accusing Hawley of fearmongering and misrepresenting his views on transgender issues. Kunce has stated that he supports transgender rights, but he has also said that parents should have the final say in decisions about their children's medical care.
Riley Gaines Takes Center Stage in Hawley Campaign Ad
The debate over transgender rights has intensified in recent months, with conservative politicians and commentators arguing that transgender athletes have an unfair advantage in women's sports and that allowing transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice puts cisgender students at risk. Transgender advocates, on the other hand, argue that transgender people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and that their rights should be protected.
The outcome of the Hawley-Kunce race will have implications for the future of transgender rights in Missouri and beyond. If Hawley is re-elected, it will be seen as a victory for conservative forces who oppose transgender equality. If Kunce wins, it will send a message that voters are not willing to tolerate discrimination against transgender people.
Riley Gaines Takes Center Stage in Hawley Campaign Ad
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