Georgia’s qualifying period for statewide elections begins this week and ends on Friday, March 6. Filing the paperwork to continue a campaign for office can be a dream come true for some candidates. Many of those candidates are running for the position for the first time and could be the first Black man or woman to hold that office.
For Penny Brown Reynolds and Kelvin King, running to be elected as Georgia’s first Black Secretary of State has become a reality. Reynolds, a former Fulton County Superior Court judge, author, and television personality (see: Judge Penny), and pastor, is running as a Democrat. King, a veteran of the United States Air Force and business owner, is running as a Republican.
In 2026, three Black Americans are up for the job on either side of the ballot. Adrian Consonery, Jr., a community organizer, is also running for the Democratic seat. Will there be a Black Georgia Secretary of State? The voters will decide.
There has been a Georgia secretary of state in office since John Milton, the namesake of the City of Milton, first took office in 1777. From the beginning through the 20th Secretary of State, John Bryan Wilson, who took office in 1931, to the first female Secretary of State, Lera Catherine Cox, in 1999, to the Current Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, who was elected in 2019, Georgia voters have failed to elect a Black American to the office.
On Monday morning, Reynolds stood on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol and spoke about her journey to this point in her political and professional career. Before the press conference began, she was introduced by her husband, Reverend Edwards Reynolds.
“Without question, I’m the right person for this job because I’m the most qualified,” Reynolds told The Atlanta Voice. “I can win this. We need someone who’s not afraid.”
Reynolds, who called the Secretary of State one of the most important offices in state government, has experience under the Gold Dome. She previously served as executive counsel to Georgia’s last Democratic governor, Roy Barnes. She was the first Black American person to serve in that role. She would be the first Black American person to serve as Georgia Secretary of State.
During her press conference, Reynolds mentioned her experience being one of the reasons she was the most qualified candidate on either side of the ballot. When asked whether the state of Georgia was ready for a Black woman to serve as its Secretary of State, Reynolds said it was, at least it was for her.
“Georgia is ready for this Black woman. I was born for this,” she said.
She added, “This is where the paperwork becomes a possibility.”
Primary election day is Tuesday, May 19, and a runoff election, if necessary, is on Tuesday, June 19. Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Both Mr. King and Mr. Consonery, Jr. have been contacted for this story. Updates to this story will be added when and if they respond to our requests.
