Decision 2026 Georgia Votes: Georgia Secretary of State candidates discuss elections, voting access and business
Republican Tim Fleming and Democrat Judge Penny Brown Reynolds share their backgrounds and priorities in the race to oversee Georgia’s elections.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The race for Georgia Secretary of State could shape how the state conducts elections, manages voter registration, and oversees professional licensing and business services.
On the latest episode of Decision 2026: Georgia Votes, 41NBC takes a closer look at the candidates competing for the position: Republican Tim Fleming and Democrat Judge Penny Brown Reynolds.
The secretary of state oversees Georgia’s elections, including voter registration and election-result certification. The office also handles professional licensing and business filings, making the position important to voters, workers, and businesses across the state.
Meet the candidates
Tim Fleming — Republican
Fleming represents Georgia House District 114 and previously served as deputy secretary of state under then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp. He later served as Kemp’s chief of staff when Kemp was governor and was a Newton County commissioner. Fleming is also a small-business owner.
Fleming’s campaign emphasizes his experience in state government and his plans to improve the secretary of state’s office.
His priorities include election security and transparency, maintaining voter ID requirements, streamlining professional licensing, reducing regulatory hurdles for small businesses and improving government technology and customer service.
Judge Penny Brown Reynolds — Democrat
Brown Reynolds is an attorney and former Fulton County judge. Her public-service experience includes work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Biden administration, including its civil rights office. She has also worked in Georgia state government and higher education.
Her campaign focuses on protecting voting rights, restoring public trust in elections, modernizing professional licensing, supporting small businesses and protecting seniors and other vulnerable Georgians from fraud.
Brown Reynolds has also emphasized transparency and accountability in how the state administers elections and delivers services.
Election administration at the center of the race
Election security and voter access are major issues in the contest, as Georgia prepares for the 2028 presidential election and a change to its voting system.
Fleming has advocated for hand-marked paper ballots. Brown Reynolds has said voters should have reliable, verifiable records of their choices and has expressed support for voting options that preserve a paper record. Their approaches reflect a broader debate over how Georgia should balance election security, transparency and voter confidence.
The candidates also have different backgrounds in the office. Fleming previously worked in the secretary of state’s office, while Brown Reynolds would bring experience as a judge, attorney and public servant.
Watch Decision 2026: Georgia Votes
Decision 2026: Georgia Votes gives voters an opportunity to learn about the candidates, their experience and their proposals ahead of Election Day.
The program features candidate interviews and expert analysis to help viewers better understand the responsibilities of the office and the issues that could influence Georgia’s future.
Georgia’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting began Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 30.
Follow 41NBC for continued coverage of Georgia’s 2026 elections.
