Ep. 08 | Bentley Hudgins – Democratic nominee for Georgia's House District 90

Bentley Hudgins explains that in Georgia, candidates qualify to run in a primary election, which determines the party nominee. The general election in November is when the nominee faces opponents from other parties. In heavily Democratic districts like House District 90, which is 95 percent Democratic, winning the primary typically means winning the general election. State House seats are up for election every two years.

“This seat that I'm running for is 95% Democrat. It's a really strong Democratic seat. So basically whoever gets a primary nomination in the primary election is gonna win, unless, you know, bar or disaster.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins says Governor Kemp called a special session starting the day after the June 16 runoff elections to address ballot counting procedures and redraw district maps for 2028. The current ballot counting law, which uses QR codes, has a sunset provision effective July 1st. Hudgins believes the timing is deliberate and characterizes it as an effort to favor Republicans and cause disruption in the election system.

“Because they didn't, and I would purport they did it on purpose, but because they never addressed that sunset, now they're going into special session to address the issues of how ballots will be counted this fall, and then redraw the maps for the 2028 cycle.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins recommends using tools like bluevoterguide.org and branch.vote to build a sample ballot. These sites show who is running for each office, what the office does, candidate information, endorsements, and let you print a sample ballot to bring with you when you vote. Hudgins says this is essential because you cannot look at your phone at the voting booth in Georgia.

“Here are the people running for this office. This is what this office does. These candidates are on there. Here is information about them, who's supporting them, who's endorsed them. And then you can take that sample ballot and print it off and take it with you when you go vote.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins strongly recommends voting early and in person unless someone has mobility issues or needs to vote by mail. Early voting gives you time to fix any problems with your ballot, such as going to the wrong polling place or encountering issues on election day. Hudgins also notes that given potential disruptions, early voting will be especially important in the fall 2026 election.

“Vote in person, vote early, because if anything, unless folks have a mobility issue or they need to vote by mail, I encourage people to vote early and in person because it gives you time in case there's a problem with your ballot.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins confirms that voters will not get in trouble for leaving races blank on their ballot. You do not have to vote for every single thing. Hudgins encourages taking time before the election to research candidates rather than making uninformed choices at the ballot box.

“You won't get in trouble for leaving an answer blank. You don't have to vote for every single thing.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins says requiring businesses to provide health care to workers is unsustainable and that expanding Medicaid and looking at single payer systems would relieve small businesses of this burden. Hudgins also points out that Republicans in Georgia have tipped the scales in favor of big corporations, making it harder for small businesses to compete. Better infrastructure, multimodal transportation, and denser communities would help small businesses by bringing more customers through the door.

“I think it is not sustainable for businesses to be required to provide health care to their workers. That is a huge expense. When in actuality, that responsibility belongs to the government.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins is looking at state or local small business stabilization grants to help businesses affected by ICE raids and checkpoints. Hudgins explains that after ICE enforcement actions, small businesses often close because no one feels safe going to work, and creating a climate of fear hurts everybody in the community.

“After an ice raid happens or after an ice stop happens or a checkpoint happens by a community or by a small businesses like all those small businesses closed because no one feels safe to go to work anymore.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins encourages people to get involved in ways that fit their skills, whether that is knocking doors for one canvassing shift, volunteering with a neighborhood group or community organization, or simply helping neighbors with tasks like cutting grass or watching kids. Hudgins emphasizes that government should be by and for everyday people, not just rich people in suits, and that creating a community of trust and compassion is the way forward.

“Government should be for and by everyday people. It doesn't have to be a group of rich people in suits making decisions about our lives.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins compares voting to brushing your teeth, calling it civic hygiene. Just like forgetting to brush your teeth makes things feel bad and stinky, not voting means not having a voice. Hudgins points out that landlords and others who affect your life definitely vote, so it is important for everyone to participate.

“To me voting is a form of civic hygiene. It's just, you know, it's like brushing your teeth. It's something that's easy to forget to do for some folks and it's like but when you don't brush your teeth it should get stinky.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins says hateful comments are like water off a duck's back. Having been bullied since childhood, Hudgins learned not to let people who do not seek to understand define how you think about yourself. Hudgins credits weekly therapy for almost two years with providing tools to manage anxiety and depression, and says practicing Buddhism and meditation helped with understanding that the only thing you can truly control is your own mind.

“I don't let people who are hateful make decisions in my life for me. I'd be a very miserable person. The only thing I can really control is my own mind. Everything outside of that is, I want to experience what you're experiencing. It just is what it is.”Bentley Hudgins

Bentley Hudgins recommends operating from a position of gratitude. Being grateful to be who you are, grateful to know who other people are because they are letting you know who they are, and grateful for friends and support. When people show you who they are through hateful behavior, Hudgins accepts it and knows who not to talk to. This approach reminds Hudgins of the goal: creating a world where other people do not have to deal with the same attacks.

“When people are hateful, at least I know what they're thinking. And at least I know who not to talk to. And when people show me who they are, I accept it.”Bentley Hudgins