Six states elect first transgender public officials in midterms
Democrats won key legislative seats in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Washington, and Wisconsin, marking a first for trans representation in state governments.
By Elena Greco ·
Six states elected their first transgender representatives to public office during the 2026 midterms. Projections from NBC, CNN, and CBS confirmed victories in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Washington, and Wisconsin. The wins in the South stood out because those regions have historically voted conservative.
Bentley Hudgins, a non-binary person, won the Democratic primary for District 90 in the Georgia House of Representatives. They defeated Republican Samantha Boston with 92.5% of the vote. Hudgins is also the first person of Japanese descent to serve in the Georgia legislature. The new representative cited stopping attacks by President Donald Trump and the Republican Party against Georgia residents as a top priority.
In Alabama, Democrat Allison Montgomery took the District 25 seat from Republican Phillip Rigsby. This result was one of three upsets in northern Alabama, a region that turned blue in these legislative races. Montgomery faced criticism from Scott Stadthagen, the chair of the Alabama Republican Party. During the campaign, Stadthagen referred to Montgomery and another trans Democratic candidate as men with mental disorders.
Quinnie Pérez, who has Mexican ancestry, became the first elected trans official in Florida. Pérez won a seat on the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District Board for District 1. The candidate focused the campaign on supporting farmworkers and protecting local biodiversity.
Michigan, Washington, and Wisconsin also elected their first transgender legislators. Joanna Whaley, a hospital chaplain, won a seat in the Michigan state legislature. Whaley described herself as a survivor of years of conversion therapy before the election. Jaelynn Scott won a seat in Washington. Scott became the first Black transgender state legislator in the United States. Dina Nina Martínez-Rutherford won her race in Wisconsin.
The next step involves these new officials taking office to begin their terms. The results in these six states expand the number of transgender members serving in state legislatures and local boards across the country.
