Georgia Poised to Elect First Transgender, Nonbinary State Lawmaker
Bentley Hudgins won the Democratic primary for Georgia House District 90 with over two-thirds of the vote, positioning them to become the state’s first openly transgender and nonbinary legislator.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Georgia is set to make history in January when the state legislature likely welcomes its first openly transgender, nonbinary, and Japanese-American lawmaker after Bentley Hudgins secured a decisive victory in last month’s Democratic primary election.
Hudgins, who previously served as Georgia state director for the Human Rights Campaign, captured more than two-thirds of the vote in the Democratic primary for House District 90, which encompasses parts of DeKalb County. The candidate defeated fellow Democrat Leisa Stafford and will face Republican Samantha Boston, a commodity analyst, in the November general election.
The district ranks among the most Democratic in the state, positioning Hudgins as the heavy favorite to win the seat currently held by state Representative Saira Draper, who is running for state Senate.
Historic Candidacy Amid Political Climate
Hudgins acknowledged the significance of their potential election during a time when state and federal governments are enacting legislation targeting immigrants and transgender rights. They emphasized their focus remains on governance and constituent service.
“To me, it shows that the voters are tired of the hate and they just care about somebody’s qualifications,” Hudgins said in an interview. “But as a representative, I view the win, historic or not, as a starting point, and it’s up to me to prove to the people of my House district that good government can happen and that we can build a democracy that is worth fighting for.”
Building on LGBTQ Representation
Georgia’s LGBTQ legislative representation began in 2001 when Avondale Estates Democrat Karla Drenner became the first openly LGBTQ member of the Georgia Legislature. Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, said Drenner’s election helped humanize the community for fellow lawmakers.
Graham predicted Hudgins could have a similar impact if successful in November. “I do believe that we will see it again if Bentley is successful in November,” Graham said according to the Georgia Recorder.
“It’s incredibly important that someone be able to build relationships with their fellow legislators so that they learn the realities to be able to dispel some of the myths and to really recognize the humanity of non-binary and transgender folks here in Georgia,” he added.
Primary Victory Sets Stage
The primary victory comes as Hudgins brings extensive advocacy experience to their candidacy. Their background with the Human Rights Campaign, a prominent LGBTQ advocacy organization, provided policy experience and community organizing skills that resonated with Democratic primary voters in the district.
House District 90’s Democratic lean means Hudgins enters the general election with significant advantages, though they must still defeat Boston to secure the historic seat. The November election will determine whether Georgia joins the growing number of states with openly transgender representation in their legislatures.
If elected, Hudgins would represent multiple firsts for Georgia’s statehouse, breaking barriers for transgender, nonbinary, and Japanese-American representation in the state’s political leadership.
