August 9th , 2026 Len’s Political Note #830 Penny Brown Reynolds Gerogia Secretary of State
2026 General Election
Penny Brown Reynolds
With the possible exception of Harlem, Atlanta, Georgia is the home of the Black integration of politics and religion. Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church was Martine Luther King Jr’s home church. He joined his father in leading that eminent church. Visitors prize the opportunity to hear US Senator Raphael Warnock preach at Ebenezer Baptist. These Black men exemplify the combination of and the leadership that is a product of combining religion and politics.
Penny Brown Reynolds is a pioneer. She is not a preacher. She is a lawyer with a Master’s from a Divinity School and a doctorate in criminal justice. This daughter of a single mother, granddaughter of a hardworking farmer able to keep his land became an advocate and counselor. She helped preachers be better preachers, spouses better spouses, and students better students. Running for Secretary of State, she wants to make Georgia a better democracy.
Secretary of State in any of our states is a place where moral leadership is profoundly important. Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rejected Donald Trump’s demand that he find 11,780 votes, the votes Trump needed to win Georgia’s electoral college votes. Term limited, Brad Raffensperger’s reward for his act of integrity was a third place finish in the Republican primary for Georgia’s governorship. Penny Brown Reynolds is running to replace Brad Raffensperger.
She was born and grew up in a small town in Louisiana, graduated from East St. John High School in Reserve, Louisiana, and left home. She went to Georgia State in Atlanta, graduating in 1991. Penny Brown Reynoldsstayed put for law school, graduating from Georgia State’s Law School in 1994, receiving the school’s award for its most outstanding student. She went to work for the Georgia Attorney General’s office
After law school, perhaps two years after law school, Penny Brown married the Reverend Edward S. Reynolds. Four years after graduating from law school, she became Executive Counsel to Georgia’s most recent Democratic governor – Roy Barnes. While she was completing her time in the Governor’s office, the National Council of Negro Women named her a “Woman of Wonder” for the year 2000.
Among the appointments Roy Barnes made before leaving office, he named Penny Brown Reynolds a state judge. She would become both a judge and a student. She earned a Master’s Degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center in 2008. The Center was a consortium of the several Black seminaries in Atlanta and was intended to train ministers.
In a way, she has also a student of her husband. Edward D. Reynolds had been Director of the Leadership Program and Student Activities at Atlanta Metropolitan College for 20 years before he was called to be the Senior Pastor of the Midway Missionary Baptist Church in 1999. Seventy-five years old, he is still there.
Shortly after he became Senior Pastor, the couple began to expand their reach. They created Divine Destiny Consulting in 2000. As Penny Brown Reynolds was getting ready to leave the Court, they created the Penny Brown Reynolds Foundation in 2007. They created Divine Destiny Productions in 2007 and, the year she actually left the court, 2008, created the JP Foundation. In 2008 and 2009, Penny Brown Reynolds had a stint as a television judge, but that would not be her life’s work.
Life changed for them in the two thousand teens. The JP Foundation closed. Divine Destiny Consulting continued in other hands and Penny Brown Reynolds began teaching at Georgia State while she oversaw what Georgia State called the Student Success Program. Georgia State reported the Program reduced the average time for students to get a degree by almost a semester.
In 2022, Penny Brown Reynolds was offered a better job. Joe Biden nominated her to be Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture. She was never confirmed by the Republican Senate but continued to work as Assistant Secretary until Joe Biden completed his term of office.
Penny Brown Reynolds tells the people of Georgia that she will “ensure that Georgia’s election inspire confidence, not skepticism” because she will:
Ensure free, fair and accessible elections regardless of zip code, race, or political affiliation.
Expand early voting sites and accessible voting centers
Strengthen absentee ballot access with clear instruction and convenient drop boxes
Rebuild public confidence through transparent processes and voter education
Promote nonpartisan election integrity and protect election workers from threats and political pressure.
Georgia’s Secretary of State also deals with a variety of business issues. With four sets of goals, including reducing red tape for businesses, Penny Brown Reynolds commits to improvements in the business side of the Secretary of State office as well.
Penny Brown Reynolds’ Republican opponent is Tim Fleming, an ally of the Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp. A former State Rep, Fleming served as Kemp’s Deputy when he was Secretary of State and as Kemp’s Chief of Staff while he was governor. Fleming defeated Trump Ally Vernon Jones in the Republican primary. Fleming is, nevertheless, a Republican. He seeks voter IDs from a population where such IDs are not universally available. He promises to “deport any illegals attempting to vote in Georgia” and to “make impossible for the Left to cheat in our elections.” He would eliminate the current program that automatically registers citizens as voters when they come into formal contact with various Georgia agencies. Fleming is advocating a plan to make voter registration more difficult.
DONATE to Penny Brown Reynolds’ campaign. A win in Georgia for a Democrat changes the state and the country. A win for a woman does the same. As does a win for a Black person. I will say it again. DONATE to Penny Brown Reynolds’ campaign to be Georgia’s Secretary of State.
Secretary of State races around the country. (Does not include states where there are no contest or states where the general election candidates for one or both major partiies have not yet been selected. I found no polls for these races.)
Alabama Democratic Attorney Wayne Rogers v Republican Attorney Caroleene Dobson. This is a Republican state – even if they elect Democrat Doug Jones as governor, this race is unlikely to be competitive.
Arkansas Democratic Marketing Specialist Kelly Grappe v Republican Election Denier Kim Hammer. This is a Republican state. Kelly Grappe is a particularly strong candidate and is worth a try. DONATE See Len’s Political Note #803.
Arizona. Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes v Republican State Rep Alexander Kolodin. Arizona is very closely divided. Adrian Fontes is a leading figure among Democratic Secretary of States; Kolodin has been representing election deniers. DONATE to Adrian Fontes’ campaign. See Len’s Political Note #773.
California Democratic incumbent Shirley Weber v Republican County Supervisor Don Wagner California is a Democratic state and Shirley Weber is unlikely to be seriously challenged
Colorado Democratic County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez v Republican Political Consultant James Wiley. Even though Amanda Gonzalez is a new candidate, she is unlikely to have a problem in this blue state.
Connecticut Democratic incumbent Stephanie Thomas v Republican Political Commentator Peter Lumaj. The Democrat is unlikely to lose in Connecticut.
Illinoois. Democratic incumbent Alexi Giannoulias v Junior College Trustee Diane Harris. Giannoulias is not likely to lose.
Indiana Democratic Attorney Beau Bayh v Former Congressional Aide Max Engling Beau Bayh is attempting to create a spark for an old Democratic dynasty. Help him do just that DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #802.
Iowa Democratic Retired Navy Pilot Ryan Peterman v Republican incumbent Paul Pate. Paul Pate is far from the worst Republican candidate among the several states. Still, this should be a good year for Democrats in Iowa. DONATE to Ryan Peterman’s campaign.
Michigan. Democratic Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist v County Clerk Anthony Fortini. Help the Lt. Gov in a year when Michigan is particularly tight. DONATE.
Minnesota Democratic Incumbent Steve Simon v Ex Judge Tad Jude. Steve Simon starts with a lead even if there are no polls.
Nevada. Democratic Incumbent Cisco Aguilar v Election denier Jim Marchant. Cisco Aguilar is a serious up and coming Democrat. Marchant is dangerous. DONATE to the Aguilar campaign. See Len’s Political Note #802.
New Mexico Democratic County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin v Republican soil and water board member Ramona Goolsby. Democrats are consistent winners in New Mexico.
Ohio Democratic former state House Minority Leader Allison Russo v State Treasurer Robert Sprague. Allison Russo is a grown up and effective politician. Help her make this a good year of Democrats in Ohio. DONATE.
South Carolina Democratic Labor Activist Jason Belton v Republican Incumbent Mark Hammond. This year a Democrat could win a race in South Carolina. You never know. DONATE to Jason Belton.
South Dakota Democratic former State Trooper Terrance Davis v State Rep Heather Baxter. This is an unusual year for South Dakota, too. It wouldn’t hurt to help Terrance Davis. DONATE.
