Bentley Hudgins wins Georgia Assembly seat as first out trans lawmaker
The gist
Georgia voters elected organizer Bentley Hudgins to the state House, the first out transgender and nonbinary lawmaker there.
The win gives LGBTQ advocates a legislative voice in a state where dozens of such bills were filed.
How it unfolded
- Apr 9, 2026Hudgins is one of three Democratic candidates remaining in the primary for House District 90, alongside Nicole Horn and Leisa Strafford; Republican Samantha Nichole Boston qualified for the race.
- Jun 11, 2026Hudgins, whose experience includes serving as Georgia state director for the Human Rights Campaign, was the top vote-getter in last month's Democratic primary for House District 90.
- Nov 4, 2026Georgia voters elect Hudgins to the state House, making them the first out transgender and nonbinary person elected to the state legislature.