However, many Democratic groups and operatives in Kaptur’s constituency refused to back down. One such woman is Arienne Childrey—an activist, transgender woman, Ohio House candidate, and vice chair of the Ohio Democratic Party’s Pride Caucus. She spoke to Erin in the Morning in her individual capacity as an advocate.

On Tuesday, Childrey said, the Lucas County Democrats posted a firm—but ultimately mild—critique of the Kaptur campaign. They did not discourage people from voting for her or call for a mass exodus from her race. They simply expressed dissatisfaction with the anti-trans rhetoric used in ads where she condemned “transgender ideology”—a nod to the far-right Christian conspiracy myth targeting the rights of trans people, gay people, and women.