Kasim Reed was raised in the Cascade community. He was educated in Fulton County's public schools where he graduated from Utoy Springs Elementary School and Westwood High School (now Westlake High School) and went to Howard University, where he received his undergraduate and law degrees.

Though Senator Reed is the youngest Democratic State Senator, he has a well-established track record of legislative excellence. Kasim Reed was first elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1998 as State Representative for District 52. He was re-elected in 2000, winning seventy-seven percent (77%) of all votes cast. In the House, Kasim Reed served two terms as a member of the House Judiciary Committee , Education Committee and Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee.

Kasim Reed has continued his successful leadership as the State Senator for District 35. He was elected in August 2002, winning 66% percent of all votes cast. He currently serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Special Judiciary Committee, Urban Affairs Committee, Higher Education Committee, Ethics Committee, Transportation Committee, and the State and Local Government Operations Committee.

Senator Reed also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Kasim Reed is a partner at Holland and Knight LLP, an international law firm with offices in Atlanta . In addition to his professional pursuits, Senator Reed has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to better his community at every stage in his life. As an undergraduate member of Howard University's Board of Trustees, Kasim Reed created a fundraising program entitled the "Independence Initiative", which The New York Times reported helped higher education "stand up to adversity". Since its inception, this initiative has contributed more than $10 million to Howard University's endowment. In June 2002, Kasim Reed was appointed as Howard University's youngest General Trustee.

Kasim Reed served as campaign manager for Mayor Shirley Franklin's first and second campaigns. Following her election in November 2001, Mayor Franklin selected Kasim Reed to serve as one of two Co-Chairs for the Shirley Franklin Transition Team. In this capacity, Kasim Reed chaired the search committee for selecting Mayor Franklin's senior cabinet-level staff.

Senator Reed's civic leadership and service has been nationally recognized in publications such as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , The Washington Post , The New York Times, Ebony and Black Enterprise. He was selected as one of Georgia Trend magazine's "40 under 40 Rising Stars" in 2001, as one of the Fulton County Daily Report 's "Lawyers on the Rise" and as one of "10 Outstanding Atlantans" in Outstanding Atlanta . Kasim Reed is a member of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2000 and is a Board Member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund.

Kasim Reed is a member of Cascade United Methodist Church, pastored by Reverend Marvin Moss.