The midterm elections in Georgia were nothing short of historic.
Democrat Jon Ossoff dominated the U.S. Senate race, securing another six years in Washington and pushing MAGA Republican Mike Collins out of public office (at least for now).
Former mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms defeated billionaire Rick Jackson to not only become the first Democratic governor in more than three decades in Georgia, but also the state's first Black governor and the first Black woman to ever hold a governor's seat in the United States.
Democrats also won all of the major state-wide races from Secretary of State to the Public Service Commission, solidifying Georgia as a key wave of the "Blue Tsunami" seen across the country.
But while these major races secured
their spots in the history books, another historic race was playing out in DeKalb County, part of the Atlanta metro.
Bentley Hudgins dominates Georgia State House District 90
Democrat Bentley Hudgins, an openly transgender and nonbinary lawmaker, dominated their race for Georgia's 90th District seat in the state house, taking home more than 27,000 votes on Atlanta's east side.
Hudgins was facing Republican Samantha Boston, who secured just 7.5% of the vote in the deeply blue district.
In winning, Hudgins not only becomes the first openly transgender lawmaker to be elected in Georgia, but also the first Japanese-American elected to public office.
The representative-elect called their win "important" because "Republicans have spent $183 million attacking trans people" across the nation.
"In a time where there is political, legislative and judicial attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, it is meaningful, it is significant and it matters. Not that I won, right? Like I'm excited that I won, but that people in Georgia decided that hatred and division was no longer going to cut it, and they used their votes last night to vote for a Georgia where everybody can thrive," Hudgins said in an Instagram video following their win.
Hudgins previously worked with the ACLU, the Georgia AFL-CIO, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, the Human Rights Campaign and the New Georgia Project, and has organized against gun violence and in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
They previously ran for the seat in 2022, but placed third in the primary. Saira Draper went on to win the seat. Hudgins is not only the first openly nonbinary lawmaker in Georgia, but also across the entire Deep South.
Which party controls the Georgia State House?
Hudgins' win was part of significant shift to the left in Georgia not only across statewide seats, but also under the Golden Dome.
Democrats have now officially won control of the state house, as of Sunday evening, with a 91 seat majority in the 180-seat chamber. There are two seats still to be called, and one race heading to a runoff in December to decide the final party count in the legislature.
“Georgians have made their voices heard,” House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley said in a statement. “After more than two decades of Republicans in control of all of state government, they’ve given Democrats the opportunity to lead and we intend to deliver.”
The state senate, however, remains under Republican control. There are 29 Republicans and 27 Democrats, and they will be presided over by the newly-elected lieutenant governor, Democrat John McLaurin.
The elections are still subject to statewide certification and audits.
Irene Wright covers midterm races in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GA's first openly transgender lawmaker heads to capitol. Who are they?
