Republicans argued the bill was essential to protecting women and girls, but also made clear they were bringing it up to portray Democrats as outside the mainstream. It stalled in the Senate.

Legislation that aimed to bar transgender women and girls nationwide from participating in school athletic competitions designated for female athletes failed to advance Monday night in a divided Senate as Democrats stood united against an issue that Republicans leveraged in last year's elections.

Senate Democrats voted unanimously to block a Republican-led bill Monday evening that would prohibit federally funded schools’ athletic programs from allowing transgender athletes from participating in women's sports.