Alabama Democrats back amendment barring men from women’s sports

Two vulnerable Alabama House Democrats, Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell, voted with Republicans on Tuesday for a defense bill amendment that would bar biological males from competing in women’s sports at Department of Warrun schools. The vote is a shift from their positions last year, when both lawmakers opposed similar transgender athlete legislation. It also comes as Republicans look to make the issue part of their midterm strategy and as redistricting has made Figures’ reelection race more difficult. The article says other vulnerable Democrats, including Don Davis of North Carolina and Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, also supported the amendment or crossed party lines on related votes. Republicans argued the change shows political pressure, while Figures said his view has stayed the same and rejected the earlier bill because he believed it lacked safeguards.