Democrat New Hampshire Representative Jonah Wheeler, a young Black lawmaker, found himself under fire from his own party after breaking ranks to support legislation protecting women-only spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms. His Democratic colleagues compared his vote to racist “Jim Crow” laws, sparking outrage and highlighting the party’s radical shift on gender issues.
Wheeler voted with Republicans to pass HB 148, a bill ensuring facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms can be separated by biological sex. He argued that protecting women’s private spaces isn’t “transphobic” and that the Democratic Party’s rigid stance silences women. His comments were met with shouts of “Shame!” from fellow Democrats, who then staged a walkout during his speech.
The attack turned ugly when a White Democrat, Rep. Heath Howard, compared Wheeler’s position to segregation-era “Whites Only” bathrooms. Howard asked if Wheeler thought such “discrimination” was fair—a shocking moment given Wheeler’s race. Wheeler calmly dismissed the comparison, stating that race and biological sex are “significantly different” issues.
Wheeler revealed that Democrats in his district are leaving the party over its extreme gender policies. He also shared that some colleagues called him a “Nazi” for his vote. “Women are being silenced in this conversation,” he said, criticizing the left’s refusal to debate calmly.
Republicans praised Wheeler’s courage. House Majority Leader Jason Osborne joked that if more Democrats followed Wheeler’s “common sense,” the GOP would struggle to win elections. Meanwhile, progressive Rep. Alissandra Murray blasted Wheeler on social media, accusing him of betraying his values for political gain.
This isn’t the first time Wheeler has angered his party. Last year, he joined Republicans to ban sex-change surgeries for minors, calling irreversible procedures on children “a bridge too far.” His independent streak reflects growing frustration among everyday Democrats tired of their party’s far-left agenda.
The Democratic Party’s reaction—comparing basic women’s rights to racism—shows how far it has strayed from mainstream values. Instead of addressing concerns about safety and privacy, activists resort to smears and historical distortions. Wheeler’s willingness to resist this radicalism offers a glimmer of hope for commonsense Democrats.
Conservatives see Wheeler as a rare voice of reason in a party increasingly dominated by extreme ideologies. His courage to stand up for women and children, even at great personal cost, exposes the left’s intolerance for dissent—and its alarming disconnect from working-class voters.
