Fulton County Commissioner Enters Georgia Secretary of State Race

Atlanta, GA – Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett has officially announced her candidacy for Georgia Secretary of State, stepping into a high-profile statewide contest with far-reaching implications for election administration in the state.

Barrett, a Democrat representing District 3 on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners — a district that includes Buckhead, Midtown Atlanta and parts of Sandy Springs — launched her campaign on January 8, 2026. She framed her bid as a continuation of her work defending voting rights and safeguarding election integrity.

At her campaign announcement, Barrett underscored the importance of the secretary of state’s role, saying Georgia’s next top election official will be responsible for overseeing elections in the critical 2028 presidential contest. She warned that efforts to undermine confidence in elections and suppress votes remain a threat, and stressed her willingness to protect the voting process.

Barrett first drew statewide attention following the 2020 election when she was one of two Fulton commissioners who refused to approve Republican nominees to the county election board, labeling them extremists — a decision that eventually led to a judge finding the commission in civil contempt. Barrett has defended her stance as lawful and in the interest of election integrity.

She joins a crowded Democratic primary, including political organizer Cam T. Ashling, former Fulton County State Court Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, and voting rights advocate Adrian Consonery Jr. On the Republican side, contenders include state Rep. Tim Fleming, former state Rep. Vernon Jones, Kelvin King, and Gabriel Sterling — a former top deputy in the Secretary of State’s office.

With incumbent Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger opting to run for governor instead of seeking reelection, the 2026 contest for Georgia’s chief elections official has become a key battleground in the state’s political landscape.