Forward in 2026; A Year of Possibilities

Born in Albany, Georgia, Mark Taylor is a graduate of Deerfield-Windsor School.  He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Emory University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia. He was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1987 and represented the 12th District until 1996, winning re-election in Albany-Dougherty County in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1996.  

In 1998, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, where he served until 2007.  

These days, the former Lt. Governor continues to serve our community.  He worked diligently to foster local support and appeared at the Albany Campaign HQ, helping increase voter participation for the Harris-Walz ticket in 2024.  

He appeared alongside DPG Chair Charlie Bailey to kick off the 2025 election season at the Civic Center. 

 
Dougherty County Democratic Committee is honored to have former Senator and Lt. Governor Mark Taylor as a vital member of our community.  We are pleased to welcome him to our Brunch Fundraiser on April 18th!

Peter Hubbard is a seasoned energy expert with 16 years of energy industry experience, including developing solar & battery storage projects, preparing electric utility Integrated Resource Plans, running electricity and gas models, performing organized market analysis in North America, projecting fuel prices, analyzing project risk, conducting M&A due diligence, navigating electric grid interconnection, and more. 

He brings this unique energy background to the role of Public Service Commissioner in his first partial term, which expires at the end of 2026.  Peter is seeking reelection for a full six-year term.

Raised just across the border in Cleveland, TN, Peter Hubbard earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Memphis, then earned a Master's degree from Johns Hopkins University in International Affairs with specializations in Economics, Energy, Resources & Environment.

In 2019, Hubbard founded the nonprofit Georgia Center for Energy Solutions to advocate for clean energy and lower power bills in Georgia. In his last role before being elected to the PSC, he worked to bring grid-scale solar power and battery energy storage systems to markets across the United States.

Commissioner Hubbard lives in Atlanta with his family.  He met his wife, Alyson, while they both served in the Peace Corps in Morocco.  They have two wonderful children, Eli and Julia. Peter has run three marathons, bicycled from Canada to Mexico, and enjoys whitewater kayaking and gold prospecting.

The Honorable Dr. Penny Brown Reynolds, popularly known as "Judge Penny",  is a nationally respected leader, public servant, author, attorney, jurist, educator, and ordained pastor. 

A trailblazer in Georgia politics, she was the first African American to serve as both the Governor’s Executive Counsel and the Lt. Governor’s Chief of Staff and Executive Counsel in the Georgia Senate—making her one of the few to have served in all three branches of state government.    

With nearly three decades in law, Dr. Brown Reynolds served as a Fulton County State Court Judge for almost a decade, one of the youngest in Georgia’s history. She also worked as Assistant Attorney General, Assistant District Attorney, and Judicial Clerk for the Georgia Court of Appeals.    

Beyond the courtroom, she gained national recognition as Executive Producer and host of 'Family Court with Judge Penny', earning an Emmy Award nomination.    

Today, as a CEO, speaker, and author of  Steps to Peace of Mind, Real Talk for Real Sisters, Women and the Law: A Guide to Women's Legal Rights in Georgia, and her most recent work, Unstoppable Strength, Dr. Brown Reynolds. empowers audiences through her dynamic storytelling and practical insights on leadership, resilience, and personal growth.   

Penny Brown Reynolds is running for Georgia Secretary of State.  Her campaign focuses on protecting Georgians’ voting rights, supporting small businesses, safeguarding senior citizens and other vulnerable communities from fraud, and restoring public trust in government. 

“Government exists to serve the people, not partisanship or personal gain,” she said in a press release announcing her candidacy. “Every Georgian, no matter their zip code, age or income, deserves dignity, fairness, and the chance to succeed. I’m running because I believe in a Georgia for all of us; a Georgia where democracy works and leaders lead with integrity.”

Born and raised in rural Clarke County as the youngest of nine children, Mike Thurmond answered a lifelong call to public service. After graduating from Clarke Central High School, he earned degrees from Paine College and the University of South Carolina School of Law before returning home to start his law practice.    

At 33, Mike made history as the first African American elected to represent Clarke County in the Georgia Legislature since Reconstruction. He later led Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services, launching the Work First program that helped 90,000 Georgians rejoin the workforce.    

As Georgia’s Labor Commissioner, Mike transformed unemployment offices into modern career centers, helping more than 300,000 Georgians find jobs. When DeKalb County schools faced a crisis, he stepped in as interim superintendent—erasing a multi-million-dollar deficit while improving test scores and graduation rates. As DeKalb County CEO, he eliminated corruption and debt, turning a $27 million deficit into a $140 million surplus.

An award-winning author and historian, Mike’s latest book chronicles the transformation of James Oglethorpe from slave trader to abolitionist.    

Now, Mike Thurmond is ready to lead Georgia forward as our next governor—committed to building a safer, fairer, and more prosperous state for every family. He lives in DeKalb County with his wife, Zola, and proudly calls all 159 Georgia counties home.