Even Amy Acton, the Democrat nominee for Ohio’s governor, acknowledges that protecting women from having to compete against men is “settled law” in the state. In doing so, she’s irked progressives. Her comments appeared in a June 30 article from The Toledo Blade, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states are allowed to protect women’s sports. Although the cases, Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., came out of Idaho and West Virginia, they upheld state laws in several states, including Ohio. “I do not support boys playing in girls sports. This is already settled law in Ohio, and as governor I will enforce and uphold the law,” Acton said. Those comments have gained attention in recent days. Last Wednesday, the Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus called out Acton. Their statement offered that Democrats win when they “unapologetically defend victims of MAGA fearmongering” and “Make clear their plan to improve the material conditions of everyday Ohioans.” Allowing males to compete in female sports has resulted in over 600 females losing 890 medals to males, according to a report from the United Nations released in 2024. Female athletes have also been injured when forced to compete against males. Acton’s comments also addressed how she “will always stand up for fairness and protect kids’ health and safety.” She further expressed commitment to working on priorities such as “lowering costs.” The caucus addressed concerns about costs as well. “ZERO Ohioans have become better able to buy groceries by keeping child sport players away from their favorite sport. Our hearts break for those kids. Those who disagree with that will never vote – let alone doorknock – for Amy Acton,” the statement read. Nevertheless, the statement expressed a desire to work with Acton. “Despite our disagreement on this issue, we remain ready to work with her to achieve our shared goals to improve life in Ohio.” “Currently her inner circle does not include a voice representing the newest and largest constituency caucus in Ohio. We believe she will be best equipped to win in November by having a FULL picture of what her constituents want. We hope she will allow us to provide our missing piece of that picture as she goes forward,” the statement concluded. The Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus is unhappy with Amy Acton over a statement she recently saying she does not support "boys playing in girls sports," and calling the issue settled law in Ohio.The group says that statement will cost her votes and volunteers. pic.twitter.com/FO93B0WN09— Andrew Tobias (@AndrewJTobias) July 9, 2026 The statement from the Ohio Democratic Progressive Caucus does not actually show up on its Facebook page. As Signal Ohio’s Andrew Tobias pointed out on X, the statement appears to have been taken down. The Daily Signal reached out to the caucus for comment but did not hear back. Since I got a question about this: The Ohio Democrats Progressive Caucus appears to have taken down the Facebook post not long after I posted about it.— Andrew Tobias (@AndrewJTobias) July 9, 2026 The Buckeye Flame last week also published a headline declaring “Dr. Amy Acton betrays Ohio’s trans community and yet again forces us into the ‘lesser of two evils’ debate.” On Monday, NBC4 covered progressives’ frustrations, including a statement from Maria Bruno, executive director for Ohioans Against Extremism. “It’s frustrating to see an otherwise strong candidate take the bait by trying to triangulate a response rather than just being frank: can we please just leave trans kids alone and get back (to) talking about how we can make life more affordable for Ohioans?” Bruno said. Acton again expressed a desire to focus on lowering costs. “We are in the middle of political season, and one of the hallmarks of political season is pitting us against one another and intentionally creating fear and chaos for people who are already dealing with a lot, and I think that’s a crime,” she said last Wednesday. “Nonetheless, this is settled law in Ohio as well as now the Supreme Court, and what I am hearing from Ohioans is they want me to focus on lowering costs in this state.” Bruno is further quoted as saying that “Democrats don’t have to play along” with such rhetoric. HB 68, which went into effect in 2024 after the state legislature overrode a December 2023 veto from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, includes protections for minors against transgender procedures and prevents males from competing against females in sports. Dave Yost, Ohio’s former attorney general and current vice president of strategic research and innovation for Alliance Defending Freedom, spoke to the Daily Signal last week about the court cases, celebrating how “the Supreme Court legalized biology.” Yost also pointed out during that conversation that liberal groups in Ohio, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, are trying to argue the issue based on a state constitutional provision passed in 2011, the Health Care Freedom amendment. The Daily Signal reached out to the Acton campaign for comment but did not hear back.