Transgender Democrat Laura Benjamin Withdraws Wisconsin House Race After Criticizing Charlie Kirk

Laura Benjamin, a transgender Democratic candidate, dropped out of Wisconsin's Third Congressional District race against Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, citing insufficient fundraising despite receiving significant support. Benjamin's campaign had recently released Facebook ads condemning the assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk for his "hateful rhetoric" toward the LGBTQ community and criticizing Van Orden for his response to Benjamin's comments. The ads, which ran briefly, included donation links and sparked controversy due to the timing and nature of the attacks on Kirk, who was killed in early September. Benjamin described the campaign suspension as a strategic decision rather than an end to her political efforts, emphasizing her ongoing commitment to progressive causes such as Medicare for All and human rights advocacy. Her withdrawal leaves two other Democrats, Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke, in the race against Van Orden. The situation highlights the challenges of fundraising and messaging in a politically charged environment, particularly when addressing sensitive topics like violence and hate speech.