Bentley Hudgins Wins Georgia House District 90
Democrat Bentley Hudgins, who uses they/them pronouns, won a Georgia House seat and will be the first out transgender and nonbinary person in the state legislature.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in LGBTQ+
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Georgia voters elected Democrat Bentley Hudgins to the state House in District 90, defeating Republican Samantha Boston with 92.45 percent of the vote. Decision Desk HQ called the race at 8:19pm Eastern time on November 3.
Why it matters
Hudgins' election makes them the first out transgender and nonbinary person elected to the Georgia General Assembly, and according to HRC president Kelley Robinson, the first trans state legislator elected from the South. It follows a 2022 precedent in New Hampshire, where James Roesener became the first out trans man elected to a US state legislature.
The race was called by Decision Desk HQ when Hudgins led 94 percent to 6 percent with 84 percent of votes counted, and Hudgins' final tally of 92.45 percent was updated after further ballots were counted.
The players
Bentley Hudgins
Hudgins is a Democrat and former Human Rights Campaign Georgia state director, named a 2026 Out100 honouree, who uses they/them pronouns.
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is a major US LGBTQ+ advocacy organization whose president, Kelley Robinson, commented on Hudgins' election.
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is a political organization that supports and tracks out LGBTQ+ candidates running for public office in the United States.
Decision Desk HQ
Decision Desk HQ is a US election-data and results organization that called the District 90 race for Hudgins.
The details
Hudgins, who uses they/them pronouns, is a Democrat and a 2026 Out100 honouree who previously served as the Human Rights Campaign's Georgia state director. According to the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Hudgins will also be the Georgia legislature's first Japanese-American member.
Timeline
2022: James Roesener became the first out trans man elected to a US state legislature, in New Hampshire.
May: Hudgins gave an interview to The Advocate about the campaign.
November 3, 2026: Georgia voters elected Hudgins, and Decision Desk HQ called the race at 8:19pm Eastern time.
Political Context
Hudgins' win follows James Roesener's 2022 election as the first out trans man to a US state legislature, in New Hampshire. It extends that precedent into the South, where Hudgins is projected to be the first trans state legislator elected.
Georgia voters now have a state representative who is openly transgender and nonbinary, which may affect how constituents in District 90 access state legislative representation. The seat's new occupant will take office in the Georgia General Assembly.
The takeaway
Hudgins' election shows that transgender and nonbinary candidates are winning seats in state legislatures across regions, including the South. Readers following LGBTQ+ political representation can track how such candidates perform in future state races.
Further reading
For more on LGBTQ+ representation in public office, see the LGBTQ+ section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.
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