WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was one of only two Republicans who failed to show up for a key vote on legislation that would have banned biological males from competing in women’s sports — effectively helping Democrats block the bill.
The measure, aimed at strengthening protections for women’s athletics under Title IX, declared that “sex shall be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” when determining eligibility for female sports programs in federally funded schools. While 51 Republicans backed the bill, it fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance — with Capito’s unexplained absence raising eyebrows among conservatives.
Capito has not issued a statement on her failure to appear for the vote, a silence that has only deepened frustration among Republican activists who say her absence undercut the party’s unified message on protecting women’s sports.
The bill’s defeat marks a setback for GOP lawmakers seeking to push back against what they see as the Biden administration’s erosion of biological standards in athletics. More than 20 states have already passed similar laws, and Republicans hoped a strong Senate vote would build momentum for a national standard.
Capito’s decision not to participate has led some to question her political calculation. As a member of Senate Republican leadership, her absence was notable — and conspicuous.
