Betty Yee, a Democratic candidate in the primary race for California governor, didn’t say “no” when asked whether biological males who identify as female should face off against women at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ms. Yee, the former state controller, doggedly defended allowing athletes to compete based on gender identity during a Tuesday interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” prompting Mr. Morgan to ask her about the 2028 Olympic Games.
Said Mr. Morgan: “My question is whether you think they should compete in women’s sport in the Olympics, because it’s coming to L.A., so it’s relevant.”
Ms. Yee responded: “I think transgender female athletes are women athletes and they should be able to compete.”
Mr. Morgan replied: “Wow, really? So if you were governor of California, you would support biological males who identify as women competing in women’s sport in the Olympics?”
Ms. Yee didn’t back down, saying: “They are now identified as transgender female.”
She may not be the biggest name in the gubernatorial race, but Ms. Yee is no fringe candidate. She served two terms as state controller by winning statewide elections in 2014 and 2018 before becoming vice-chair of the California Democratic Party in 2021.
She also served on the California State Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2015.
Later in the interview, Ms. Yee acknowledged that male athletes may have an edge over females, saying, “I know about an advantage in some sports, yes; in other sports, maybe not.”
Which sports?
“I think you can see female athletes where, particularly in track and field,” she said, prompting Mr. Morgan to ask whether women should run against men in the 100-meter dash or other races.
Ms. Yee replied: “Perhaps. I’m not a sports expert.”
The men’s world record in the 100m dash is almost a full second — a 10% advantage — ahead of the women’s world record — 9.58 seconds to 10.49. There is no track-and-field event in which the male record isn’t significantly better than the female one.
Asked whether the Olympics should remove sex distinctions altogether and have male and female athletes compete in one “gender-neutral” field, Ms. Yee didn’t rule it out.
“I don’t think we’re going to get that tomorrow, but I think it’s a conversation worth having,” she said. “We need to understand what the attributes are of athletes across the spectrum.”
Needless to say, her views on transgender athletes stunned conservatives, including Steve Hilton, the former Fox News Channel host running as a Republican in the California gubernatorial race.
Mr. Hilton said “my jaw was dropping” as he watched the exchange while waiting to appear on Mr. Morgan’s show.
“I kept thinking, she’s not going to say that. Like surely, no way she’s going to say ‘gender-neutral Olympics.’ No way she’s going to say ‘track and field’ when Piers asked her what sports,” said Mr. Hilton in a Wednesday interview with podcast host Clay Travis.
“Gender neutral Olympics” – that’s California Democrats’ latest genius idea.
These people have lost the plot. Watch the lowlights of Betty Yee’s car crash interview w/ @piersmorgan – and my response straight after. As governor I will end this absurd madness.
cc @Caitlyn_Jenner pic.twitter.com/lD76HRx8AS
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) October 15, 2025
“Every time you thought, no way, she’s not going to say something so crazy, she said it,” said the Republican candidate. “It’s just incredible, but exactly as you say, this is where they’re at. These California Democrats – insane.”
California uses a “top-two” open primary system in which the two candidates with the most votes face off in the general election, regardless of party.
Other leading candidates in the gubernatorial primary race include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, and former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter. The primary is June 2.
