In a bid to secure the Republican presidential nomination for 2024, top contenders Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and former President Donald Trump addressed the national conference of Moms for Liberty in Philadelphia. This conservative parents-rights advocacy group has gained significant influence, particularly due to their focus on education and concerns over discussions of gender identity in classrooms. The candidates’ appearance at the summit signifies the importance they place on cultural issues related to race, gender, and education in the upcoming nominating contests.
The Republican candidates are keen on appealing to parents of school-age children, especially suburban women, a pivotal voting bloc in US presidential elections. Former President Trump, considered the front-runner, emphasized his ability to resonate with suburban women, stating their desire for peace, lower taxes, and good education. Trump also pledged to take action against what he referred to as the “toxic poison of gender ideology,” asserting the belief in only two genders.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, Trump’s closest rival, highlighted his achievements in education, including supporting legislation that expanded the state’s private-school voucher program. DeSantis defended the removal of books with themes of sexuality and gender identity from public school shelves, arguing against the use of tax dollars to introduce such material. The Republican candidates’ alignment with Moms for Liberty underscores the group’s growing influence as a conservative player in national politics.
Moms for Liberty, founded in 2021 during the pandemic, has actively supported the election of conservative school board members and lobbied for measures that restrict the teaching of gender identity concepts to elementary and middle-school students. Although the group will not endorse a specific candidate in the primary, it demands candidates to pledge their support for advancing policies that increase parental involvement and defend against government overreach.
Critics, including national civil-rights groups, accuse Moms for Liberty of veering beyond pandemic-related concerns and embracing an anti-LGBTQ and anti-diversity agenda. The group’s actions have resulted in measures in several states that limit the curriculum and remove objectionable books from libraries. Transgender advocacy groups argue that these efforts aim to erase their community and push them back into the shadows.
While supporters maintain that Moms for Liberty is not a hate group, but rather a platform to protect children’s interests, the organization faces significant backlash. The upcoming 2024 US presidential election will shed light on the impact of groups like Moms for Liberty and the influence they hold over conservative candidates’ campaigns.
