Former State Judge Penny Brown Reynolds Announces Campaign for Georgia Secretary of State

A new candidate has made her intentions known about the 2026 election for Georgia’s Secretary of State’s office.

Penny Brown Reynolds, a former state judge, lawyer to Georgia’s last Democratic Governor Roy Barnes, ordained pastor, and educator, announced her candidacy Thursday evening. In her campaign launch, she noted her service at the federal level as Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brown Reynolds said her campaign will carry the theme, “A Georgia for All of Us: I Believe!”—a reflection of her lifetime commitment to public service and the words of a woman who once reminded her, “Remember, you’re here for all of us.”

“I didn’t come to have a job, I came to do a job,” Brown Reynolds said in her campaign release. “Government exists to serve the people, not partisanship or personal gain. 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.”

She will formally launch her campaign with a series of statewide kickoff events, beginning October 9 in Augusta and October 28 in Atlanta, with additional stops planned in Columbus, Macon, Albany, and Savannah.

The Secretary of State’s office is responsible for overseeing Georgia elections, managing annual corporate filings, and regulating professional licensing. Brown Reynolds said her priorities will include protecting voting rights, safeguarding vulnerable communities from fraud and scams, and ensuring state services are accessible and fair.

In a video message shared on social media, she described her candidacy as a calling. “I’ve been called, truly called, to use my voice, my experience, and my faith to help people live better—more dignified lives—to serve, to protect what matters, and to build a Georgia for all of us, because I believe,” she said.

Outside of her legal and government service, Brown Reynolds is also widely known as the host of the nationally syndicated television program Family Court with Judge Penny. She is an ordained minister as well.

The 2026 race is already drawing interest from both parties. Fellow Democrat Adrian Consonery has announced his candidacy, while Republican contenders include State Rep. Tim Fleming, businessman Kelvin King, and current Secretary of State COO Gabriel Sterling.

More information about Brown Reynolds’ campaign is available at www.PennyForGeorgia.com.