Incoming Georgia state Rep. Bentley Hudgins celebrated becoming the first “openly nonbinary or trans person elected to a state legislature in the Deep South,” calling the milestone evidence that “Woke 3.0 has now commenced.”
Hudgins, 33, also highlighted another historic distinction, saying the victory made them “the first Japanese-American elected in Georgia.” The Democrat won a state House seat during last week’s so-called “blue tsunami.”
The claim quickly drew mockery online. End Wokeness posted on X: “Good news, Georgia! You now have your 1st non-binary trans, Japanese elected official!”
Hudgins responded to that post and other criticism by presenting the election as a sign that the United States had entered a new phase of progressive politics.
“Thank you for the shout out!” Hudgins replied. “Woke 3.0 has now commenced. Cope.”
The phrase “Woke 3.0” describes what supporters see as a new progressive political era following Democrats’ strong showing against Republicans in elections nationwide on Nov. 3, a result widely interpreted as a rejection of the current administration.
The “3.0” reference echoes New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who went viral after declaring that the left had entered a new period because “Woke 1 was crazy.”
Controversial left-wing streamer Hasan Piker likewise celebrated during an election-night livestream, declaring that he was “officially branding woke back” and urging viewers to restore “gender pronouns back in your LinkedIn profiles immediately.”
“We’re skipping Woke 2.0, we’re getting to Woke 3.0,” Piker said.
Hudgins will represent Georgia’s 90th District in metro Atlanta after securing more than 92% of the vote.
“I was elected because 27,921 people voted for me,” Hudgins told one critic. “We ran on making life safer, more affordable and healthier for everyone. The horror!”
