In the aftermath of big gains for Texas Republicans in Tuesday’s election, the state’s Democratic party chair laid the blame in part on Democrats going “too far” in support of trans rights.

“We can say, ‘OK, we respect people’s right to say we don’t want my taxpayer money to be used for that, and at the same time support transgender rights,’” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said on Wednesday. “I’m not saying that we need to take that position right now. But when those votes happen, we need to recognize that there are going to be long-term political consequences when we do that.”

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After a concerted attack that included a $215 million TV ad campaign demonizing trans people, Tuesday’s election yielded the biggest win for a Republican presidential candidate in Texas in 20 years. Trump managed to flip one Democratic stronghold on the border that had gone blue since 1896, according to the San Antonio Current.

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“You have a choice as a party,” Hinojosa continued in an interview with KUT News in Austin. “You could, for example, you can support transgender rights up and down all the categories where the issue comes up, or you can understand that there’s certain things that we just go too far on, that a big bulk of our population does not support.”

Reaction from the trans community was swift and unsparing.

“Shameful. This is unacceptable,” posted Austin drag queen Brigitte Bandit, who frequently speaks to LGBTQ+ issues in the state capitol. “Trans Texans aren’t your f**king scapegoats, DEMOCRATS.”

The Stonewall Democrats of Dallas issued a statement demanding an apology from Hinojosa for his “harmful and divisive rhetoric,” which they say implies “that trans Texans bear responsibility for the disappointing losses by Democrats in Texas.”

“Blaming members of the LGBTQ+ community — particularly trans Texans who already face disproportionate discrimination and hostility — is deeply irresponsible and counterproductive. The Texas Democratic Party should be a safe haven for all marginalized groups and should champion inclusion,” they wrote.

Hinojosa’s explanation could be seen in Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred’s approach to his failed race against incumbent Republican Ted Cruz, who hammered Allred on trans rights with his share of ads in that multi-million dollar TV campaign.

Allred went on defense in response, issuing an ad that said in part, “Ted Cruz is lying again, but now he’s lying about our children. I’m a dad, I’m also a Christian. My faith has taught me that all kids are God’s kids. So let me be clear: I don’t want boys playing girls’ sports or any of this ridiculous stuff that Ted Cruz is saying.”

Trans journalist Erin Reed called Allred’s response “ill-advised” and wrote that, although Allred’s ad doesn’t specifically mention transgender people, his line about “boys playing girls’ sports” is “likely to be heard as an anti-trans dogwhistle in Texas, where nearly every anti-trans ad has framed transgender girls as ‘boys.’”

Allred’s approach didn’t work. Cruz took the race by nearly 10 points.

Wednesday night, Hinojosa was forced to concede that his response was ill-advised as well.

“I extend my sincerest apologies to those I hurt with my comments today. I recognize the pain and frustration my words have caused,” he tweeted Wednesday night. “In frustration over the GOP’s lies to incite hate for trans communities, I failed to communicate my thoughts with care and clarity.”

Hinojosa’s term as state chair ends in 2026.

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