Democratic candidate Fred Wellman declines to answer local reporters about trans rights after GOP attack ad

The useful part

Democrat called out for refusing to talk about trans rights positions Fred Wellman has a history of supporting trans people and is one of many Dems experimenting with how to respond to the GOP's anti-trans attack ads. Ann Wagner (R-MO), the incumbent candidate for Congress in Missouri's Second Congressional District, launched an attack ad this month about her Democratic opponent, Fred Wellman, focusing on his support for trans rights. It seems, like most Democrats, Wellman is experimenting with how to respond.

How it works

• Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) September 20, 2026 Yet, when a local news station tried to follow up with Wellman about the ad and his position on trans rights, he repeatedly rebuffed them.
• Democrats across the country are struggling to figure out how to respond to anti-trans attack ads.
• One ad — aired repeatedly during football games to reach male voters and suburban women — showed pictures of Harris next to a drag queen, a trans woman, and a nonbinary person, and ended with the tagline,...
• President Trump is for you." Members of the party have since argued over how big a role these ads played in the president's victory and the Republican Party's overall performance.
• Campaign said that the anti-trans ads were a waste of money because polls showed that only 4% of voters listed trans issues as among their primary concerns.

What to take from it

"We asked his campaign which claims were false," KSDK political editor Mark Maxwell told viewers in a September 21 segment. They want us to believe their lies about fellow Americans because transgender people are the one group they feel safe to hate with vicious passion and get away with. I have had so many people tell me they are voting for me now after the insane lies being spread.

Example or evidence

• "He declined an interview and told us to investigate Wagner's finances instead." Maxwell said the station then sent Wellman's campaign 12 written questions.
• "So the strategy appears to be: dodge, discredit, deflect." Wellman does have a track record of supporting trans rights and continues to call out Republicans' anti-trans attacks.
• In the same year, he slammed the state's then-governor, Mike Parson (R), for wanting to call a special legislative session focused on passing anti-trans bills.
• Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) September 14, 2026 So it's unclear why he dodged KSDK's questions, but one thing is for sure:

Details worth keeping

Democrat called out for refusing to talk about trans rights positions. Molly Sprayregen (She/Her) September 24, 2026, 11:30 am EDT Share: Dem congressional candidate Fred Wellman | Campaign Photo Rep.

Related coverage

• Lgbtqnation: While campaigning in Iowa, Rob Sand has picked up anti-trans talking points.
• Huffpost: Several Democratic candidates are proactively saying they oppose "boys in girls' sports" to deflect Republican attacks.
• Lgbtqnation: Sherrod Brown is trying a new approach to anti-trans attacks, which doesn't involve trying to explain his views.
• Lgbtqnation: Her response when asked who she'd pick if she had to vote for J.D. Vance or Marco Rubio has lit up social media.