Sarah Mcbride On Bathroom Issues: 'it Is An Attempt To Distract' By Republicans

Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.) has a theory for why Republicans are so focused on what bathroom she will use in the upcoming Congress: “it is an attempt to distract from what they are actually doing.”

“Every single time, every single time we hear them say the word 'trans,' look what they're doing with their right hand,” McBride said in an interview with host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation."

“Look at what they're doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare. Look what they're doing, undermining workers.”

She added, “Every bit of time and energy that is used to divert the attention of federal government to go after trans people is time and energy that is not focused on addressing the cost of living for our constituents. And we have to be clear that there is a real cost for the American worker every time they focus on this.”

McBride, who is about to become the first openly transgender member of Congress, has landed at the center of debate over what bathroom transgender people should be allowed to use on Capitol Hill. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) recently introduced legislation that bars transgender women from using the women's restroom, and, soon after, Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would enforce it.

“A man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman,” Johnson said last week. “That said, I also believe- that's what Scripture teaches, what I just said. But I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity.”

According to Newsweek, Mace on X "posted, reposted and responded for a total of 326 times" about the topic over a three-day period.

Throughout the week of this controversy, McBride has brushed aside the debate, pointing to the fact that she plans to focus instead on the issues her constituents sent her to the Capitol to fight for. She added that she hopes to work with fellow members of Congress who want to work on these serious issues.

“I didn't run for the United States House of Representatives to talk about what bathroom I use. I didn't run to talk about myself. I ran to deliver for Delawareans,” McBride said. “And while Republicans in Congress seem focused on bathrooms and trans people, and specifically me, I'm focused on rolling up my sleeves, diving into the details, setting up my office, and beginning the hard work of delivering for Delawareans on the issues that I know keep them up at night.”

She added, “How I'm being treated does not matter. What matters is how the American people are being treated and whether we're actually focused on the issues that matter to them.”

McBride also addressed concerns over messaging on transgender issues within the Democratic Party. In the wake of a resounding rejection of Democrats across the country, some members, like Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), have suggested Democrats need to shift their messaging on some issues, like transgender women playing women’s sports.

“I think this country is still entering into a conversation about who trans people are, the full diversity of the community,” McBride said. “And I've had conversations with colleagues in the Democratic caucus already that span diversity of thought about how the party should engage on a whole host of issues. But I think we are all united that every single American deserves equal rights.”