Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington approved measures restricting transgender athletes in sports, delivering wins for a cause the Trump administration has made a central policy goal.
The results came on the same night Democrats swept races in Republican strongholds, a sign that GOP-backed proposals can still carry the day with voters across different regions.
Three of the measures, in Colorado, Nebraska and Washington, went before voters as citizen initiatives. Arizona's was placed on the ballot by the state legislature.
Arizona's measure, drawing roughly 59% support late Wednesday, extends the state's existing restrictions to private athletic associations. It also bars schools and athletic groups from letting people into restrooms, changing rooms and similar facilities meant for the opposite sex from what their original birth certificate shows.
In Colorado, Proposition 134 was passing with 52% of the vote. It requires every school team, from elementary grades through college, to be labeled male, female or coed, with students competing by biological sex.
Nebraska's measure amends the state constitution to keep male students off girls' and women's teams.
Washington's Initiative 638 blocks transgender girls from girls' sports in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students who want to join female teams will need healthcare paperwork confirming they are eligible based on sex.
The practical reach in Washington may be narrow: the state's interscholastic athletics association has said it knows of only about 10 transgender athletes competing statewide in a given year.
Even before this week's votes, 29 states already confined female school sports teams to female students through statutes, regulations or athletic association policies.
