Judge Penny Brown Reynolds has dedicated her life to championing the community.
She is the proud daughter of a single mother and the granddaughter of a farmer who taught her the values of faith, hard work, and dignity. From those humble beginnings, she learned that integrity matters, justice must be pursued with courage, and that no title carries more weight than simply being a servant of the people.
Raised in the South, she watched her mother persevere through hardship with grace, and she watched her grandfather rise early, pray hard, and work even harder. Their example shaped her purpose. She faced obstacles like most Georgians. Judge Penny had to earn everything she had, and that taught her the honor in working hard… and the wisdom in working smart. Rather than allowing those struggles to define her, she transformed them into fuel for her journey. Each challenge became a lesson, each setback a stepping stone, preparing her for every role she would later hold: attorney, judge, professor, public servant, pastor, and national leader. That’s why she never forgot where she came from. That’s why she connects with every day people.
That calling led her to break barriers and make history. She worked her way through college and law school and went on to become the first African American to serve as Executive Counsel to a Georgia Governor having previously served as the first African American Chief of Staff and Executive Counsel to the Lieutenant Governor.
Her journey led her to become one of Georgia’s youngest judges, where she served with honor for nearly a decade in Fulton County. She earned a reputation for fairness and clarity on the bench—so much so that not a single one of her criminal rulings was ever overturned. That experience deepened her belief that the law should serve people, not power.
From the Capitol to the courtroom and through every branch of government, she has never stopped pushing for what’s right.
Most recently she was appointed to the Biden-Harris Administration as Acting Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Chief EEO Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There, she led civil rights enforcement and strategy for over 100,000 employees, slashing a historic case backlog by over 90% and implementing the agency’s first-ever 5-year strategic plan. She led boldly—because transformational leadership demanded it.
Beyond public service, she founded a national non-profit that has hosted conferences empowering women, advancing literacy, and expanding opportunity in underserved communities and founded a consulting firm addressing change management, financial literacy, workforce readiness and job preparation – always with the same mission: to lift communities by empowering people with tools to succeed.
Judge Penny has always believed that the most sacred right in a democracy is the right to vote. Voting is the heartbeat of freedom—it’s how we make our voices heard and hold power accountable. That’s why she has spent her life defending civil rights, expanding access, and standing against any effort to silence the voices of the people.
Education is at the heart of everything she does. As a professor at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, she mentored countless students to pursue careers in justice and public service. She also led academic centered programming within the University System of Georgia. Whether in the classroom or the courtroom, she believes in lifting as she climbs.
She earned a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice, a Juris Doctor, a Master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree and an executive certificate from Harvard Kennedy School. She has been called upon to speak both nationally and internationally and has spoken in hundreds of communities throughout Georgia. But no accolade means more to her than the trust of the people she serves.
Faith and family are at the heart of who she is. Judge Penny and her husband Rev. Edward S. Reynolds have been married for over 30 years, and together they serve faithfully in ministry. Her faith has been her anchor that carried her through life’s challenges and the compass that has guided her commitment to serving the community.
Today, Judge Penny is running to be your next Secretary of State because she understands that Georgia deserves a leader who will protect the vote, defend our democracy, and put people over politics. She believes every Georgian—no matter their zip code, race, or income—deserves fair, secure, and accessible elections.
She believes this office must stand as the guardian of fairness and opportunity. From protecting the right to vote, to empowering small business, modernizing professional licenses, safeguarding seniors, and ensuring government accountability – she brings extensive experience in executive leadership and management, vision, and a heart to serve.
This pivotal moment in Georgia calls for courage. It calls for integrity. And it calls for someone who knows what it means to rise from humble beginnings—and still reach back to lift others. She is someone who knows how to make government work for the people and get the job done.
Judge Penny Brown Reynolds has spent her life working for justice. As Secretary of State, she will continue to do everything she’s already been doing: fighting for fairness and building systems that truly serve the people. She believes in a Georgia for all of us.