Penny Brown Reynolds, a former state judge, ordained minister, and Biden administration appointee, has officially entered the race for Georgia’s secretary of state, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in a state where election administration has become a focal point of national attention. Her announcement, made on September 18, 2025, comes at a pivotal time for Georgia politics, with the current secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, launching a bid for governor and a crowded field of candidates vying to fill the influential office.
Reynolds’ background is nothing if not varied. She first gained public notice as a Fulton County state judge, later becoming a familiar face to television audiences through her Emmy-nominated show, Family Court with Judge Penny, which aired for one season in 2008-2009. But her resume extends well beyond the bench and the small screen. In 2022, she was tapped by President Joe Biden for a senior post at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where she served as deputy assistant secretary for civil rights, helping steer the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Her experience also includes work as an attorney for former Democratic Georgia Governor Roy Barnes, who is now chairing her campaign and offering a full-throated endorsement.
“Judge Penny has the vision, integrity, and proven record to lead,” Barnes said, according to The Associated Press. “Georgia needs a secretary of state who can restore confidence, protect our democracy, and get results for everyone — that’s why I’m proud to support her.”
Reynolds is one of the first Democrats to enter the race, alongside voting rights advocate Adrian Consonery Jr., and she hopes to become the first Democrat to serve as Georgia’s secretary of state in nearly two decades. It’s a tall order, given the state’s recent political history, but Reynolds insists she is up to the task. “I will protect our democracy,” she declared in a campaign video. “I will defend every eligible Georgian’s right to vote. Whether you live in Atlanta or Albany, whether you’re 19 or 90, whether you vote blue, red or not at all.”
Her campaign is built around a platform of expanding access to the ballot box, making early voting sites and drop boxes more accessible, and restoring public trust in government. She’s also focused on supporting small businesses, protecting seniors and vulnerable communities from fraud, and improving cybersecurity. “Government exists to serve the people, not partisanship or personal gain,” Reynolds said in a press release. “Every Georgian, no matter their zip code, age or income, deserves dignity, fairness, and the chance to succeed. I’m running because I believe in a Georgia for all of us; a Georgia where democracy works and leaders lead with integrity.”
Her pledge to protect election workers carries particular weight in Georgia, where false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election led to threats and harassment against election officials. Two Georgia election workers have filed lawsuits after facing a barrage of threats stemming from conspiracy theories. Reynolds’ platform promises to stand with these workers and ensure their safety, a stance that resonates in a state still grappling with the aftermath of the last presidential election.
Reynolds’ experience is not limited to law and public administration. She is also an ordained minister and educator, and she often refers to herself as a “daughter of the South” with deep roots in Georgia. She has spoken about her upbringing as the granddaughter of a farmer, emphasizing her connection to rural communities and her understanding of the challenges faced by Georgia’s agricultural sector. “Our state of Georgia, our businesses are on the backs of our farmers,” Reynolds told FOX 5 Atlanta. “So, I think I have a great combination for such a time as this, to be the leader for this occasion.”
The secretary of state’s office in Georgia is responsible for overseeing elections, managing corporate filings and professional licenses, and administering the state’s securities market. It’s a role that has drawn national scrutiny in recent years, especially after the 2020 election, when then-President Donald Trump pressured Raffensperger to “find” enough votes to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia. Raffensperger and his former chief operating officer, Gabriel Sterling, both Republicans, became prominent defenders of the state’s election integrity in the face of intense criticism from their own party.
With Raffensperger now seeking the governor’s mansion, the race to succeed him is wide open. On the Republican side, Gabriel Sterling is running for secretary of state, joined by Kelvin King, a former U.S. Senate candidate whose wife, Janelle King, sits on the State Elections Board, and state Representative Tim Fleming, a vocal advocate for hand-marked paper ballots and head of a legislative study committee on elections. Each of these candidates brings a distinct perspective to the race, with King appealing to Trump supporters skeptical of election security, and Fleming championing reforms to the state’s voting system.
Reynolds, for her part, is positioning herself as a unifying figure who will listen to all Georgians, regardless of party affiliation. “I don’t care whether you vote red, blue, or you don’t vote at all. I’m going to every county because I believe at its base level, all of us as Georgians, we want to see something different. I am that difference. I’m going to reach people where they are. And you know what I’m going to do, to listen to people,” she told FOX 5. Her campaign will officially launch next month with kickoff events across the state, aiming to engage voters at the grassroots level.
Adrian Consonery Jr., another Democrat and voting rights advocate, is also in the race, but Reynolds’ campaign has already garnered significant attention thanks to her high-profile endorsements and diverse background. Her supporters believe her combination of legal expertise, government experience, and public visibility could make her a formidable contender in a state where Democrats have struggled to win statewide office in recent years.
Georgia’s secretary of state race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in the 2026 election cycle, with implications for how elections are run and how public trust in the process can be rebuilt. With candidates from both parties promising to safeguard democracy, support small businesses, and protect vulnerable communities, voters will have a clear choice about the direction they want for one of the state’s most important offices.
As the campaign season gets underway, Penny Brown Reynolds stands out as a candidate eager to bridge divides and bring a new vision to Georgia’s election system—one shaped by decades of public service and a commitment to every corner of the state.
