Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley engaged in a fiery exchange during the fourth Republican presidential primary debate, focusing on their past positions regarding transgender bathroom access. The debate, held at the University of Alabama, saw both candidates accusing each other of mishandling the issue.
DeSantis claimed that Haley “killed” a bill during her tenure as governor of South Carolina that aimed to prevent biological males from using female restrooms. He expressed his disagreement with the idea of men using girls’ bathrooms and stated that he believed it was wrong. In response, Haley accused DeSantis of lying about the matter and defended her actions during her time as governor.
Haley explained that when the bathroom access issue arose during her governorship, there were only a few children dealing with the situation. She believed that government intervention was unnecessary and advocated for boys using boys’ bathrooms and girls using girls’ bathrooms. However, Haley acknowledged that the issue has since grown significantly and suggested that those who disagreed with the policy should use private bathrooms.
The debate grew more heated as DeSantis claimed that he signed a bathroom bill in Florida, contradicting Haley’s accusation that he did not support such legislation. He also mentioned conversations with South Carolina legislators who claimed that boys were entering girls’ bathrooms in some schools. Haley strongly rejected DeSantis’ claims, stating that the situation he described never occurred in South Carolina.
The moderators attempted to move the conversation forward, but DeSantis emphasized his ability to get things done. While it is true that the South Carolina bill did not progress beyond the committee stage, DeSantis accurately pointed out that Haley had criticized it.
Both candidates had evolving positions on bathroom bills. In 2016, Haley did not believe it was necessary to pass a bill requiring individuals to use bathrooms based on their sex. However, in 2023, DeSantis signed a law preventing transgender individuals from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity in certain public facilities.
Prior to signing the law, DeSantis did not consider bathroom issues a priority in 2018. During a gubernatorial forum, he stated that he would leave the matter as it was and believed it was not a productive use of time.
The clash between DeSantis and Haley highlighted their differing perspectives on transgender bathroom access. While their past positions evolved over time, their debate showcased the importance of the issue within the Republican party.
