COURAGE. SERVICE. HISTORY.

By Dr. Jacqueline Mohair

Jacqueline’s Magazine | The History Issue

History deserves more than a victory announcement. It deserves remembrance of the women who stepped forward, the women who served, and the women who carried possibility into a new chapter.

As Georgia celebrates Penny Brown Reynolds becoming the first Black woman elected secretary of state, there is room to honor other journeys connected to that office. Dee Dawkins-Haigler’s campaigns and Robyn Crittenden’s historic appointment belong in that conversation, each for its own contribution.

Their experiences remind us that public leadership takes courage long before the celebration begins.

Dee Dawkins-Haigler: The courage to return

Dee Dawkins-Haigler sought the Democratic nomination for Georgia secretary of state in 2018 and again in 2022. Her second campaign reached the primary runoff, where she was defeated by Bee Nguyen. Neither campaign carried her into the office. Both placed her before voters as a woman prepared to lead.

Returning after a loss requires resolve. It means offering yourself again to public scrutiny, asking people to believe in your vision, and accepting that the outcome remains uncertain.

Her story deserves a place beyond the word “lost.” A campaign can introduce ideas, demonstrate leadership, and give another woman permission to imagine herself on the ballot.

Historical accuracy also matters when we honor that courage. Dee was preceded by Black women including Georganna Sinkfield, the Democratic nominee in 2010, and Doreen Carter, the nominee in 2014. Recognizing them strengthens the story by giving more women their rightful place in it.

Robyn Crittenden: A historic responsibility

On November 8, 2018, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Robyn Crittenden secretary of state to complete Brian Kemp’s remaining term. She became the first Black woman to serve as a statewide constitutional officer in Georgia.

Crittenden’s appointment established a milestone of its own. She held the authority and responsibility of the office, bringing her experience in public service into a consequential role.

Her place in history should be named precisely: she served through appointment. That distinction preserves her achievement and helps readers understand the milestone that followed.

Penny Brown Reynolds: A new electoral milestone

In November 2026, Penny Brown Reynolds became the first Black woman elected Georgia secretary of state. Her victory marked a different threshold: voters chose a Black woman to hold the office.

That achievement belongs to Reynolds, her campaign, and the voters who supported her. It also offers an occasion to remember the longer history of Black women seeking and exercising public leadership in Georgia.

We do not need to claim that one woman’s campaign directly caused another woman’s victory to recognize the significance of their stories together.

Giving each woman her place

As a Bridge Builder, I believe we have a responsibility to preserve the full story.

We can honor Dee’s persistence. We can recognize Robyn’s service. We can celebrate Penny’s election. We can remember the women who came before all three.

For the young woman watching, these journeys offer several ways to understand leadership: the courage to seek responsibility, the preparation to accept it, and the determination to earn the public’s trust.

A woman’s contribution deserves to be remembered with care, whether her chapter ends in a campaign, an appointment, or an election victory.

Sources: WABE, Ballotpedia, Georgia Public Broadcasting, Digital Library of Georgia, WSBTV.