The Supreme Court’s conservative-leaning justices this week upheld a Tennessee ban on some gender-affirming care for youths, prompting immediate criticism from their liberal-leaning colleagues.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent that “the court abandons transgender children and their families to political whims.”

But one group on the left has been quiet since the ruling sent shockwaves: Democratic leaders across the country eyed as potential 2028 White House picks.

The lack of response to the 6-3 ruling underscores what some political observers have called the party’s continued nervousness over how to address an issue that became pivotal in the 2024 election. It also shows how fraught the topic may remain heading into the 2026 midterms that will decide control of Congress.

President Donald Trump campaigned heavily on a promise to ban gender-affirming care for youth and prevent transgender athletes from competing – and he’s taken several executive actions impacting transgender Americans since the start of his second term.

Here’s what to know about how prominent Democrats responded to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

What happened?

The decision, in which the court said preventing minors from using puberty blockers and hormone therapy does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, was immediately criticized by liberal and progressive groups, like Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.

The court’s ruling comes after Trump and Republicans made transgender rights a key part of the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.

“Kamala supports tax-payer funded sex changes for prisoners,” one of Trump’s campaign ads alleged about then-Vice President Kamala Harris. “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.”

Some Democrats called the ads among the most effective of the campaign, according to multiple reports last year. And in recent months some Democrats have worked to separate their party from elements of transgender rights efforts. For example, California Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines in March when he suggested transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports was “deeply unfair” and acknowledged the campaign ad was “devastating.”

Since taking office in January, Trump has signed executive orders to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports, end federal support for gender-affirming care and prevent transgender people from serving openly in the military. Trump also signed on his first day back in office an order declaring that the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female.

Governors quiet

Newsom of California, Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, the three governors considered leading contenders to run for president in 2028, all kept quiet after the Supreme Court’s decision this week.

Most forthcoming of the party’s potential 2028 contenders was Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, who has a transgender cousin, and who wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Illinois has protections to “meet this very moment.”

“In a time of increasing overreach and hateful rhetoric, it’s more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community,” he added. “You have a home here always.”

Rank and file

Reaction among Democrats on Capitol Hill was largely quiet as well, though several members of Congress did make statements.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York denounced the decision on the Senate floor as part of a “cruel crusade against trans Americans.” On social media he called it a distraction from issues impacting all people, regardless of gender identity.

His counterpart in the House, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York did not mention it in a news release or on social media.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, pointed out in a statement that 24 other states have similar laws blocking some gender-affirming care for transgender youths.

“Today, hate won,” he said, alleging the Supreme Court’s conservative-leaning justices “endorsed hate and discrimination by delivering a win for Republicans who have relentlessly and cruelly attacked transgender Americans for years.”

“Once again, politicians and judges are inserting themselves in exam rooms,” Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Delaware, the nation’s first openly transgender member of Congress, said Wednesday on X, formerly called Twitter. “This ruling undermines doctors in delivering care to some of the most vulnerable patients in our country.”