WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to The Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard introduced last week by Independent Women’s Voice, a wave of candidates and members of Congress are standing up against the increasing threats to women’s rights, opportunities, and spaces, including by signing Independent Women’s Voice’s Stand with Women Commitment to promise to “support legislation that preserves female opportunities and private spaces” once in office.
Candidates and members of Congress issued the following quotes of support:
Tim Sheehy, former Navy SEAL and candidate for U.S. Senate (R-MT), said: “It’s time to bring back Montana common sense: boys are boys, and girls are girls. I’m proud to stand with Riley Gaines who is leading the charge in the fight for common sense, standing up for women, and holding Two-Faced Jon Tester accountable for his phony act and insane record that’s leaving Montana girls women behind. The Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard makes the choice in Montana clear: Jon Tester voted to let men play in girls’ sports and confirmed a Biden-Harris Supreme Court Justice who couldn’t define the word ‘woman.’ I’ll always fight back against the Left’s lunacy and stand in strong support of women!”
Kari Lake, candidate for U.S. Senate (R-AZ) and Stand with Women Commitment signer, said: “Young women spend years training to excel in their sport, only to have their dreams crushed by gender-confused men with a God-given biological advantage. Thanks to the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard, Arizonans can see for themselves where I stand on this issue and how Ruben Gallego has voted not once, but twice against keeping men out of women’s sports and spaces. Ruben Gallego rips trophies from the hands of girls, hands them to men, and calls it ‘progress.’ I refuse to let the radical left erase women in our society.”
Sam Brown, candidate for U.S. Senate (R-NV) and Stand with Women Commitment signer, said: “As a dad with a daughter, supporting women’s sports and standing with women is pro-equality and simply the right thing to do. I’m grateful for the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard making it easy to see that I stand with women and Jacky Rosen does not. She has had two opportunities, just this year, to support women’s only sports and she chose not too. Her voting record does not match the 70%+ Nevadans who want fairness in women’s sports.”
Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia and candidate for U.S. Senate (R-WV), said: “It’s been an honor to lead a state that stands with women and supports women’s sports. I will continue to fight for fairness in women’s sports in the U.S. Senate. I’m grateful West Virginians and all Americans have access to where their candidates stand thanks to the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard.”
Nella Domenici, candidate for U.S. Senate (R-NM) and Stand with Women Commitment signer, said: “I am proud to stand with Riley Gaines and strong women who support women’s opportunities. I am proud of my own career, which I spent trusting, respecting, and empowering women. Resources like the Independent Women’s Voice’s ‘Stand with Women scorecard’ are a clear way to show who actually stands with women.”
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) said: “I am so glad Riley partnered with Independent Women’s Voice to create her own scorecard. This is a clear way to show every American who stands with women and who does not. Title IX is one of the best things to come from Congress. As a former coach, I have seen firsthand the tremendous opportunities created for female athletes because of Title IX. Unfortunately, the Biden administration is hellbent on destroying these opportunities and setting women back 50 years. I will always fight for our nation’s daughters and granddaughters to grow up in a world where they are empowered to pursue their dreams and not bullied by an out-of-touch, anti-woman agenda.”
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) said: “To ensure that women and girls experience fairness on the field and safety in their locker rooms, we must protect the integrity of Title IX. I appreciate Riley’s steadfast courage to stand up for women and girls, and I’m proud to stand with her.”
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) said: “Only women should play in women’s sports. It’s not complicated. I am proud to have a perfect score on the Riley Gaines Scorecard.”
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) said: “Every time a girl steps onto the mat, court, field, or track, she should know that she has every opportunity to compete and win! I’m proud to work alongside Riley Gaines to protect the integrity of women’s sports.”
Katy Stamper, candidate for U.S. House (D-GA-11) and Stand With Women Commitment signer, said: “Our culture has abandoned young girls, subjecting them to the superior strength of biological males in their sports and in their locker rooms. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. I’m grateful for the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard that is making it crystal clear to Georgians who Stands with Women. Supporting female-only sports should be the easiest thing for every candidate to do, but Congress keeps letting women and girls down by making them forfeit games, lose in their sports, or abandon their sports. The failure to defend these girls is disgraceful. I have the utmost compassion for transsexual individuals, many of whom suffered from abuse as children and mental health issues, but biological reality still matters, and men can’t be in women’s sports. I vow to stand with women and invite other Democrats and Independents to join me.”
U.S. Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-4) said: “I’m honored to receive an ‘RG Approved’ rating on the Stand With Women Scorecard. I’m proud to represent Nassau County in Congress, one of the largest American counties to prohibit men from playing in women’s sports. While Democrats are hell-bent on their dangerous, unfair, anti-women agenda, Republicans will always stand tall in defending women’s rights.”
Drew Johnson, candidate for U.S. House (R-NV-03) and Stand with Women Commitment signer, said: “As a member of Congress, I will stand with the women who have fought for decades to achieve fairness in sports, education, and business. I will ensure females are protected on the playing field and in the locker room, work to guarantee that female-only spaces remain truly safe places for women and girls, and defend opportunities intended for women, such as grants, loans, and scholarships. Thanks to Riley Gaines and Independent Women’s Voice launching the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard, every person in Nevada can see exactly where I stand on this issue.”
Riley Moore, West Virginia State Treasurer, candidate for U.S. House (R-WV-02), and Stand with Women Commitment signer, said: “Biological men have no place competing in women’s sports. Congress needs to get serious about defending our women and girls’ safety, privacy and opportunities against the woke left’s gender ideology crusade. I look forward to working with Independent Women’s Voice and Riley Gaines to protect our girls and the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard makes it easy to see who does.”
Mayra Flores, former United States Congresswoman, candidate for U.S. House (R-TX-34), and Stand With Women Commitment signer, said: “I am so grateful Riley Gaines partnered with Independent Women’s Voice to create her own scorecard. This resource is a clear way to show every American who stands with women and who does not. I am proud to Stand with Women and promise to support legislation that preserves women’s opportunities and private spaces.”
Niki Conforti, candidate for U.S. House (R-IL-6) and Stand With Women Commitment signer, said: “The policies of the left are erasing all the advances women have made in sports over the last few decades. When in Congress, I will stand with women and work to protect their right to compete fairly in single-sex sporting events. I’m grateful for the Riley Gaines Stand with Women Scorecard for bringing attention to this important issue.”
Yvette Herrell, candidate for U.S. House (R-NM-02) and Stand with Women Commitment signer, said: “I am traveling all over New Mexico, listening to what New Mexicans want. They tell me they want hope. Our future has to put people over politics. I am proud to stand with the hardworking men and women of our state, stop the woke ideology that is dividing us and put America back on track. The Stand with Women Scorecard will help New Mexicans find out who will fight for pro-woman, pro-science, and pro-parents’ rights policies.”
U.S. Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL-17), sponsor of the House-passed H.R. 734 Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, said: “It’s time to stand up and protect Title IX from erosion by radical agendas. The overwhelming majority of Americans—70%—know that men have no place in women’s sports. For decades, Title IX has ensured equal opportunities for women, and we cannot allow radical and experimental progressive delusions to erase those hard-fought victories. I am pleased Riley partnered with Independent Women’s Voice to create a scorecard that actually lets the American people know who ‘passed’ and who didn’t! Congress must take a stand to defend fairness and safety in women’s sports, protect the integrity of competition, and—most importantly—stand for morality and the clear truth that there are only 2 sexes: male and female.”
U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL-15) said: “As a mom of 7 and now grandmother to 21, I was horrified when I learned the Biden-Harris Administration wanted to force my daughters and granddaughters to shower with men and allow them to compete in their sports. When Republicans took control of the House in 2023, we kept our promise to protect women’s sports and overturn the Biden-Harris Administration’s radical and illegal rewrite of Title IX. I am proud to stand with Riley Gaines and Independent Women’s Voice in keeping our girls safe and ensuring the equality of their competitions continues.”
U.S. Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL-12) said: “Riley Gaines, the accomplished former NCAA swimmer, has become a valued leader in the fight to protect women’s access to competitive sports. As the father of two daughters and grandfather of seven granddaughters, I couldn’t be more supportive of her work. To measure Congress’ record on preserving opportunities for women, Riley and Independent Women’s Voice has issued a vote scorecard for each Member of Congress. I’m proud to say my voting record is Riley Gaines-Approved.”
U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-6) said: “As a father of two young daughters, I believe it’s crucial to safeguard the rights of female athletes. The ‘Riley Gaines Scorecard’ serves as a vital tool to hold elected officials accountable in this fight, and I’m proud to see former Kentucky Wildcat Riley Gaines leading the charge on this important issue.”
U.S. Congressman Alex Mooney (R-WV-2) said: “The rights of women and girls have been threatened on sports teams, in locker rooms, sororities, and prisons in recent years. This must stop. 70%+ of Americans believe women’s sports should be female-only. I’m proud to be Riley Gaines approved.”
BACKGROUND:
Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) is proud to introduce The Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard as a first-of-its-kind resource that scores every candidate for federal office on whether they intend to support legislation that preserves female opportunities and private spaces. In partnering with Riley Gaines, ambassador for Independent Women’s Voice, the scorecard will help raise widespread awareness to the public and hold policymakers accountable for standing up against the increasing threats to women’s rights, opportunities, and spaces.
The scorecard has three factors that contribute to an “approved” score:
- Candidates that have signed the Stand with Women Commitment or publicly declared their support for female-only sports and acknowledged the differences between the two sexes;
- Congressional incumbents who have voted “YAY” to pass the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” (H.J. Res. 165) and/or voted “YAY” to repeal the Biden-Harris administration’s illegal administrative rewrite of Title IX (H.R. 734);
- Senate incumbents must have co-sponsored the Congressional Review Act resolution to strike down the Biden administration’s unlawful Title IX regulation (S.J. Res. 9) and/or voted to allow the “Protections of Women and Girls in Sports Act” from having a floor vote.
Following election day, the Riley Gaines Stand With Women Scorecard will transition from scoring candidates to scoring the incoming congressional class based on their votes in Congress, as part of a continual effort to hold leaders accountable for safeguarding women’s sex-based rights.
View the Scorecard at www.rileygainesscorecard.com.
Direct all press inquiries to [email protected].
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Independent Women’s Voice fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.