Republican Presidential Candidates Weigh In On North Carolina's HB2 Law

North Carolina's controversial House Bill 2, best known for its so-called “bathroom provision,” is in the national spotlight once again. Two presidential candidates are sparring over the legislation.

Republican Donald Trump spoke out against HB2 on Thursday, saying the state should have left it “the way it was.” His rival, Ted Cruz, responded by saying the law is common sense and tweeted that “grown men shouldn't be in bathrooms w/little girls”.

House Bill 2 has several provisions, including one that requires transgender people to use public bathrooms that match their biological sex.

David Coates is a political scientist at Wake Forest University. While this has been an unpredictable campaign, he says Trump's opposition to the law could hurt him, if the Republicans end up in a contested convention.

“He's going to need every conference delegate he can get his hands on and the chances are that coming out so strongly against HB2, or at least allowing Ted Cruz to be the person championing HB2, is likely to reinforce Cruz's chances of doing well at the convention,” says Coates.

Trump currently leads the Republican delegate count. He won North Carolina's primary in March, while Ted Cruz came in second.

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