Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed a bill that would ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, becoming the second Republican governor to do so in the last week.
The Republican governor vetoed the bill just hours before the Utah Legislature adjourned from its yearly legislative session, delivering a not-so-unexpected blow to the proposal. Cox indicated last month he would veto the bill once it reached his desk, noting there are only four transgender high school student-athletes among the 75,000 in the state.
“Four kids and only one of them playing girls sports. That’s what all of this is about,” Cox said in a statement. “Four kids who aren’t dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships. Four kids who are just trying to find some friends and feel like they are a part of something. Four kids trying to get through each day. Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few.”
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Despite months of negotiations and attempts to compromise, Cox cited several “fundamental flaws” in last-minute amendments that ultimately led to his veto. One such addition was included on the last day of the legislative session and would have implemented a total ban on transgender athletes, which Cox called a “major overhaul.”
“It is important to note that a complete ban was never discussed, never contemplated, never debated and never received any public input prior to the Legislature passing the bill on the 45th and final night of the session,” he said. “For this reason, many legislators who might have otherwise supported the policy felt compelled to vote against it.”
Shortly after Cox’s veto announcement on Monday, Utah Republicans met that evening to discuss a veto override.
To overturn the governor’s decision, the Legislature would need support from two-thirds of its lawmakers, meaning state leaders would need support from some Republicans who voted against the ban. However, state leaders expressed optimism they could secure the vote by the end of the week.
“Members of the Legislature, including the sponsor, have worked tirelessly for more than a year to find the best way to approach a complex issue and I anticipate that we will have sufficient votes to override the veto,” said state House Speaker Brad Wilson in a statement. “Ultimately, the Legislature recognizes the value of girls athletics and our members want to ensure girls have the level playing field to compete that was created by Title IX.”
Cox, a first-term governor up for reelection in 2024, acknowledged the political implications of his decision, conceding, “It would be much easier and better for me to simply sign the bill.”
But, he said, the legislation must be fine-tuned to include public input and implement some form of financial protection for school districts that could get sued for enforcing the ban.
“Because the bill was substantially changed in the final hours of the legislative session with no public input and in a way that will likely bankrupt the Utah High School Athletic Association and result in millions of dollars in legal fees for local school districts with no state protection … I have chosen to veto this bill,” he said. “I have always tried to do what I feel is the right thing regardless of the consequences. Sometimes I don’t get it right, and I do not fault those who disagree with me.”
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Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed a similar bill just the day before. The two Republican governors broke with GOP legislatures in 11 states that have enacted similar transgender athlete bans in recent years, particularly as the issue becomes a highly divisive topic among politicians.
