Missouri's two Republican candidates for attorney general say the Obama administration is overstepping its bounds through a directive for bathroom access for transgender students.
Attorney Josh Hawley and state Sen. Kurt Schaefer said that constitutes federal overreach during a Monday debate on Columbia-based Zimmer Radio stations.
At issue is a directive from President Barack Obama's administration that calls for public schools to allow transgender people to use restrooms matching their gender identities. That comes amid a legal battle over a North Carolina law requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms, showers and changing rooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate.
Hawley and Schaefer face an Aug. 2 Republican primary. They're hoping to replace Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster, who is running for governor.