Mississippi’s statewide elections are not until 2027, but candidates are already beginning to line up to get a head start on a cycle ripe for new faces to take office.
Shuwaski Young announced Friday on MidDays with Gerard Gibert that he will be seeking the office of secretary of state as rumblings grow louder that current Secretary Michael Watson is mulling a bid for higher office. Young filed his statement of organization papers and is set to hit the campaign trail for the third time in his political career – this time as a Republican.
The former Democrat flipped party affiliation last year after saying the left side of the political scale no longer aligned with his “traditional values of faith and family,” claiming the Mississippi GOP wants to “move the state forward for everyone.”
Before the switch, he was the Democratic pick to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Guest in 2022, and in 2023, he was the party’s nominee for secretary of state before dropping out of the race over health concerns.
Young, who has since recovered from what he referred to as a hypertension crisis, said the decision to seek office again comes after personal reflection and conversations with family, friends, and fellow members of the Republican party.
“This is something I have prayed about thoroughly and something I’ve talked about with family. I am a firm believer that when God puts something on your heart, there’s no time to waste,” he said. “The reception has been very good. I’ve spoken with people in the state legislature and Republican executive committees all over Mississippi.”
Young’s experience with the secretary of state’s office goes further than his second bid for the position.
He gained his initial footing in politics when he worked as an intern under Democrat Eric Clark while studying at Jackson State University. He was promoted to the office’s director of marketing and training before being retained by now-Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann when the Republican was elected secretary of state in 2008.
While noting his familiarity with the office, Young released an initial platform package that includes advocation for early voting. In Mississippi, legislative efforts to pass a form of “no-excuse” early voting have failed in recent years, but Young said he would gladly work with lawmakers to push for a small window in which citizens can cast a ballot without having to explain why in the days leading up to the polls officially opening.
“I do believe that early voting is something we can come to terms with,” Young said, adding that it’s difficult for a lot of residents to carve out time to vote on election day. “When it comes to thinking about our farmers, factory workers, veterans, as well as rural farmers, I believe they deserve more flexibility to be able to cast their ballots.”
Mississippi is one of three states that does not offer early voting to all voters, meaning residents must have a valid reason – such as being 65 years or older or being out of town on the date of an election – to vote early through the absentee process.
A Republican-led bill that passed the state Senate but failed in the House this past session would have established a 15-day period for in-person early voting without an excuse. Young’s platform tends to align with the legislation’s basis, even if it means shortening the period to get it through both chambers and signed by the governor.
“It’s not something that I foresee a policy that we put forth where we’re giving 45 days ahead of the election so people can early vote. That’s not the number I’m looking at. I’m looking at a short period before the actual election day, whether that’s five or 10 days but nothing more than 15 days,” he explained.
Other platform points for Young include supporting voter ID laws, ensuring elections are safe and secure, and encouraging more people to not only register but show up to vote. While he is opposed to online voter registration, Young would like to create a multi-agency approach to in-person voter drives and voter awareness.
“I’ve registered thousands of people to vote, and that is not an estimate,” he said, citing work with multiple campaigns and nonprofits. “We have to keep it in front of people. It can’t just be the secretary of state’s office. Of course, the secretary of state’s office needs to lead that charge, but we need all of our government agencies pushing the right to vote and pushing the importance of people voting.
“What Secretary Watson is doing now is great and it’s a great effort, but we have some work to do. I see our voter rolls and we’re not getting enough people out to vote – no matter if they’re Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green Party, or whatever. We’ve got to get those numbers well over 50 or 60 percent.”
The secretary of state’s office also plays a key role in business administration, handling the formation and regulation of those setting up shop inside state lines. Young said he would use the position to pitch for more public safety funding, which he contends directly correlates with businesses wanting to open in Mississippi.
Going into his first campaign as a GOP candidate, Young knows that flipping parties can often raise skepticism. Using the last nine months to build relationships within the Republican party, he recently carved out a role as secretary with the party’s executive committee in his home county of Neshoba.
Young would make history, if elected, becoming the first Black statewide official since the Reconstruction era. While that isn’t at the forefront of his mind, he said race relations is one of the main reasons he switched parties.
“Contrary to popular belief, Republicans want to move Mississippi forward for everyone – not just for big business, not just for people who make a lot of money,” he said. “I believe what a lot of people already know is that the Black community is like the rest of Mississippi. We are extremely conservative when it comes to how we actually put forth traditional values. I want to see our community get back to that again.”
Young will hold a campaign launch event in Neshoba County this fall. In the meantime, he wants to hear from voters and answer any questions they might have. He encouraged people to email him at [email protected].
