Nevada: Voters Oppose Transgender Policies

A majority of Nevada voters are against allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, one of the potential consequences of a referendum next month that would make “gender identity or expression” protected civil rights under the state constitution.

A new telephone and online survey by Rasmussen Reports and the Capitol Resource Institute finds that 72% Nevada Likely Voters oppose men who identify as women being able to compete in women’s sports, including 57% who Strongly Oppose such a policy. Twenty-three percent (23%) support biological men competing in women’s sports, including 13% who Strongly Support it. Similarly, 65% of Nevada voters oppose allowing men who identify as women to use women’s restrooms and locker rooms, including 54% who Strongly Oppose it. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

However, 61% of Nevada voters support the constitutional amendment known as Question 1, including 41% who Strongly Support the ballot measure. Question 1 would amend the state constitution to include “gender identity or expression” and “sexual orientation” to categories guaranteed “equality of rights.” Twenty-six percent (26%) oppose Question 1, including 16% who Strongly Oppose the “equality” amendment. Another 14% are not sure. 

“Like most propositions progressive push, the details are always hidden,” said Karen England, President of the Capitol Resource Institute. “This poll clearly shows if Nevadans knew that Question 1 will hurt women and girls, they would oppose this measure. Question 1 allows for biological males to compete in girls sports, access their locker rooms and bathrooms and Nevadans do not support this attack on women and girls. While other states are protecting girls, Nevada legislators are doing everything they can to erase women.”

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The survey of 707 Nevada Likely Voters was conducted on October 13-17, 2022 by Rasmussen Reports and Capitol Resource Institute. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Question 1 is supported by 47% of Republican voters in Nevada, 83% of Democrats and 54% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Forty-four percent (44%) of Republicans, 11% of Democrats and 30% of unaffiliated voters oppose the “equality” amendment.

The survey found overwhelming opposition to providing transgender treatment to minors. Sixty-six percent (66%) of Nevada voters oppose gender-affirming surgeries or the prescription of hormones and puberty blockers for minors, including 54% who Strongly Oppose such treatment. Democrats (25%) are much less likely than Republicans (76%) or unaffiliated voters (60%) to Strongly Oppose transgender treatment for minors.

In addition to asking Nevada voters about Question 1, the survey also asked about this year’s elections for governor and U.S. Senate.

Forty-two percent (42%) of Nevada voters would reelect Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak, while 47% would vote for his Republican challenger, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo. The GOP challenger Lombardo has a 17-point lead (48%-31%) among unaffiliated voters.

Forty-three percent (43%) would vote to reelect Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, while 48% would vote for her Republican challenger, former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt. Unaffiliated voters favor Laxalt by a an 18-point margin, 48%-30%.

Among other findings of the CRI/Rasmussen Reports survey:

– Fifty-five percent (55%) of Nevada voters have been closely following news about Question 1, including 22% who have followed the news Very Closely. Among those who have Very Closely followed news about Question 1, 40% support the “equality” amendment and 47% oppose it.

– Fifty percent (50%) agree with supporters of Question 1 that it is important to ensure equality by including protections for gender identity, including 31% who say protections for gender identity are Very Important.

– Thirty-eight percent (38%) of Nevada voters say that the statement, “Gender isn’t just man or woman, it is a spectrum,” closely matches their beliefs, while 54% say the “gender spectrum” statement doesn’t closely match their views. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Democrats say the statement closely matches their views, but only 15% of Republicans and 28% of unaffiliated voters agree.

– Sixty-three percent (63%) say the statement, “God created man and woman, distinctly, equally and complementary,” closely matches their beliefs, while 26% say it doesn’t closely match their views. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Republicans, 55% of Democrats and 63% of unaffiliated voters say the “God created man and woman” statement closely matches their views.

– Fifty-seven percent (57%) don’t believe religious organizations should be forced to hire individuals who don’t conform to their deeply held religious beliefs about gender, marriage, and sexuality.

– Sixty-seven percent (67%) say that if they knew that Nevada’s Question 1 would allow biological males to compete in womens’ sports, they would oppose it. Similarly, 66% say they would oppose Question 1 if they knew it would allow biological males in intimate female spaces like locker rooms and restrooms.

The CRI/Rasmussen Reports survey also asked Nevada voters to rate the job performance of Gov. Sisolak and President Joe Biden.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) approve of the job Biden is doing as president, including 19% who Strongly Approve, while 58% disapprove of Biden’s job performance, including 51% who Strongly Disapprove.

Forty-three percent (43%) approve of the job Sisolak is doing as governor, including 21% who Strongly Approve, while 54% disapprove of Sisolak’s job performance, including 39% who Strongly Disapprove.

If the elections for Congress were held today, 49% of Nevada Likely Voters would vote for the Republican candidate, while 40% would vote for the Democratic candidate.

A majority of California voters support an abortion rights referendum scheduled for next month, even though most are against late-term abortion.

While most voters will wait until Election Day to cast their ballot, half of Democrats say they’ll vote early this year.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to the public as well as Platinum Members.

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