Faith leaders, elected officials, and community members gathered at Antioch Baptist Church Thursday morning as Judge Penny Brown Reynolds officially launched her statewide campaign for Georgia Secretary of State
‘Called to run’: Brown Reynolds shares her mission
Brown Reynolds, a former Georgia State Court judge, pastor, and Biden appointee, told the crowd she felt “called” to run for the office to restore integrity and accessibility in state government.
“I stand before you not just as a former judge, but as a woman deeply committed to the soul of this state,” she said. “I will protect our democracy and defend every eligible Georgian’s right to vote — whether you live in Atlanta or Albany, whether you’re 19 or 90.”
She emphasized expanding access to voting, simplifying business licensing, and protecting seniors from fraud. “If you believe voting should be a right, not a fight — join me,” she urged.
Experience across three branches of government
Throughout her speech, Brown Reynolds outlined a career that spans all three branches of government.
She served as executive counsel in the Governor’s Office, chief of staff to the lieutenant governor, assistant attorney general, and administrative law judge before becoming a state court judge
Focus on fair voting
Addressing Georgia’s Senate Bill 202, Brown Reynolds described recent election-law changes as “barriers” that make it harder for voters, especially seniors, students, and working families, to participate.
Brown Reynolds spoke openly about her upbringing in the rural South and how her faith and family shaped her calling to public service.
She also tied her message to civil-rights values, saying today’s challenges require “prophetic courage” from both churches and voters. “We can’t get tired now,” she told attendees. “We’ve been called for such a time as this.”
Thursday’s stop at Antioch Baptist Church kicked off a full day of appearances in Augusta, including a business roundtable at Wallace Branch Library, a podcast recording with The Walker Group, and a community lunch at Café 209
