Covington Rep. Fleming and former Judge Brown Reynolds Face Off for Georgia Secretary of State

State Rep. Tim Fleming and former Fulton County judge Penny Brown Reynolds are competing for the office of Georgia secretary of state. The role gained national attention following the 2020 election when the previous holder, Brad Raffensperger, declined President Donald Trump's request to overturn the state's results. Both candidates are running as Election Day nears, offering distinct visions for how voting should be administered in the coming years.

Fleming, a Republican, represents Covington in the state House. He served two terms as a lawmaker and previously acted as deputy secretary of state under Brian Kemp. He currently sits on a special committee tasked with selecting Georgia's next voting system. The state's decade-long contract with its current ballot-marking devices is set to expire, with lawmakers expected to choose a replacement during the 2027 legislative session.

Brown Reynolds is a Democrat who served as a judge in Fulton County and worked in the Biden administration. She helped lead the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She also appeared on the reality television show Family Court with Judge Penny from 2008 to 2009.

The candidates disagree on specific election procedures. Fleming introduced an amendment during a special session in June that directs the special election committee to focus solely on hand-marked ballot systems. He has also sought to limit no-excuse absentee voting and protect the state's voter identification laws. Brown Reynolds has pledged to expand voting access and defend absentee ballots. She opposes the federal SAVE America Act, arguing that Georgia's existing laws already require ID at the polls and prevent non-citizens from voting.

Cathy Cox, who served as Georgia secretary of state from 1999 to 2007, noted that the next official will likely handle mid-cycle redistricting efforts. She said reapportionment initiatives typically return to the secretary's office for administration. Cox also highlighted the role in certifying results for statewide races and transferring federal outcomes to the governor's office.

During an Atlanta Press Club debate earlier this month, Fleming said he is not there to relitigate the 2020 election. He stated his goal is to ensure the right to vote is secure, fair, transparent, and trusted. He attended a recent rally in Dalton with President Trump, where he criticized Brown Reynolds for leaving the bench to film her reality show. Fleming said she chose Hollywood instead of Georgia.

Brown Reynolds has positioned herself as independent from federal pressure. In a recent campaign ad, she referenced Trump's 2020 call with Raffensperger and pledged to do what is right for Georgia regardless of who is calling. During the debate, she questioned Fleming about his failure to oppose a March executive order from Trump that sought to restrict mail voting. She described the need for an independent secretary rather than someone seeking an endorsement from Washington.

The race is viewed as consequential due to Georgia's status as a battleground state. The next secretary will oversee the 2028 presidential race and the implementation of the new election system. The outcome will also influence how the state handles potential legal challenges to redistricting plans and the certification of election results.