GOP super PAC airs ad accusing Sherrod Brown of backing teen gender-transition surgery

The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, launched a new commercial targeting Ohio Senate hopeful Sherrod Brown, accusing him of supporting gender-affirming surgery for minors. The ad centers on Soren Aldaco, a 23-year-old who says she underwent hormone treatment and a double mastectomy after doctors labeled her transgender, and claims Brown would never oppose such care. Brown’s 2023 interview, cited in the spot, stated that decisions about transgender procedures for children should be made by families and physicians, not politicians.

Ohio currently prohibits these surgeries for minors, and Brown is seeking to defeat incumbent Jon Husted after previously losing his Senate seat to Bernie Moreno. The Senate Leadership Fund is allocating almost $10 million to the ad, emphasizing voter fatigue with Democratic positions on the issue. Brown’s campaign has dismissed the attacks and is focusing on economic concerns like drug prices and utility rates.