Sarah Trone Garriott’s Stance on Locker Room Policies Challenged by Her Voting Record

Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, aims to reassure voters about her stance on locker room access. She asserts that she opposes allowing men in women’s locker rooms, disputing perceptions shaped by her opponents.

“I’m a mom with two kids in Iowa public schools. Their education and safety keep me up at night. When my opponent cherry-picks and twists my record, I have to set it straight,” Trone Garriott stated in a campaign video. “I oppose letting men in women’s locker rooms,” she emphasized.

However, Trone Garriott’s legislative voting history presents challenges as she seeks to unseat the incumbent, Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa. Before securing the Democratic nomination, Republicans noted parts of her record representing positions to the left of her current campaign stance.

Republican critics have highlighted actions such as a Muslim prayer she offered on the Iowa Senate floor and officiating a satanic wedding as a Lutheran minister. This scrutiny extends to her position on bathroom policies. Vice President J.D. Vance criticized her votes related to gender policies during a speech for Nunn.

Trone Garriott cast votes against two significant bills in the Iowa Senate. One, passed in 2023, prevents schools from allowing individuals to enter bathrooms not matching their biological sex. Another, from 2022, uses biological sex to set eligibility for school and college sports teams.

Her votes align with past statements from 2023, where she discussed tensions related to racial and gender issues. She expressed concerns about the portrayal of white male power and its ambiguity, linking this to legislative responses and community conflict.

“We see responses happening in legislation, with an emphasis on funding private schools and parents’ rights. These include book bans and sports bans under the guise of protecting women,” Trone Garriott said in a speech to the United Methodist Church.

Trone Garriott’s campaign hasn’t clarified how her past actions match her current positions or whether these have evolved. In a statement to Fox News Digital, her spokesperson, Zach Schenkman, reiterated her commitment to child safety and parental rights as the priorities.

Trone Garriott’s campaign video criticized the political focus on the topic, stating, “Politicians have become too extreme on these issues. I’ll always put kids and families first.”

Despite her current stance, Republican strategist Zach Kraft criticized Trone Garriott’s past record. “Even Sarah Trone Garriott’s handlers know her radical record and statements are unelectable in Iowa,” Kraft shared with Fox News Digital.

Incumbent Zach Nunn narrowly won re-election in 2024 with 51.8% against Democrat Lanon Baccam’s 47.9%. Trone Garriott will challenge Nunn in the November 3rd general election.

Leo Briceno, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.