Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) acknowledged Friday that gender-neutral bathrooms are not a politically effective issue for Democrats, even as the party continues to promote them as part of its broader equity agenda. Speaking on NewsNation’s Cuomo, Bera warned his party against being drawn into what he called “culture wars” by President Donald Trump, who he described as “a master at deception.”
“We’re not going to win elections if we’re against Trump,” Bera said. “We’re going to have to tell people what we’re for and don’t get sucked into the culture wars.”
Bera emphasized that Democrats must focus on delivering for the middle class and stop appearing condescending to voters. Despite acknowledging the political downside, he defended the push for gender-neutral bathrooms as rooted in Democratic values. “Yet, we go fight for that because we do want equality for everyone. We don’t want folks to be ostracized. That is a value that we have,” he said. “But that’s not a winning issue right now.”
The comments reflect growing concern among Democrats that cultural battles—often framed by conservatives as extreme or out of touch—are costing them support among working-class and independent voters. While issues like gender-neutral bathrooms are promoted as inclusive by left-wing activists, polling has shown they are unpopular with a wide swath of the electorate.
President Trump and other conservative leaders have repeatedly criticized Democrats for prioritizing fringe social issues over mainstream concerns like inflation, crime, and border security. By admitting that such policies are not electoral winners, Bera joins a growing list of Democrats urging a strategic refocus ahead of 2026.
