Iowa Democrat’s New Ad Takes on Anti-Trans Attacks Without Throwing Transgender People Under the Bus

This story originally appeared on The Advocate.An Iowa candidate for Congress is pushing back against anti-transgender attacks in new ads without treating LGBTQ+ people as obstacles to knock down.Christina Bohannan released a digital video of herself on a track in Iowa-branded athletic gear, discussing her history in women’s sports. The Democrat is challenging Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who has criticized Bohannan’s vote in the Legislature against a transgender sports ban. But in the ad, Bohannan turns the focus to Miller-Meeks’ own record.“I was proud to run track in high school so it's pathetic that Mariannette Miller-Meeks is trying to panic you about girls sports instead of tackling our toughest problems,” Bohannan says to the camera. “Miller Meeks picked her team: the Washington special interests.”Related: Texas Republican calls out GOP’s costly obsession with anti-trans campaigns: ‘It’s just not resonating’Miller-Meeks last month posted an online attack on Bohannan’s past advocacy for LGBTQ+ Iowans.“When Iowa voted to protect girls’ sports, Christina Bohannan voted NO,” the Republican posted. “Girls deserve a fair playing field. I’ll always stand up for our daughters and granddaughters.”Miller-Meeks and her allies have also promoted video of Bohannan criticizing sports bans. “They’re introducing these bills and making these comments to try to make a point,” Bohannan said in a clip aired on Fox News. “And I think even that is really damaging to people and sends a very bad message about our state that’s going to make the state look like a backwater.”In her latest ads, Bohannan shifts the focus to what she calls $4 million in special interest donations Miller-Meeks’ campaign accepted.“My team will always be Iowa,” Bohannan says to the camera. “That means cutting middle class taxes protecting Social Security and Medicare and fighting for our reproductive rights.”But unlike some Democrats runn