The State Board of Election Commissioners (SBEC) has approved Shuwaski Young’s request to withdraw as Democratic nominee in the upcoming secretary of state race.
Young informed the media of his plans to leave the race on Aug. 27, citing a “hypertensive crisis” that resulted in him being hospitalized overnight. In order for the Democratic party to submit a new candidate prior to the Nov. 7 general election, Young was required to present an affidavit with his doctor’s signature to the SBEC.
With the approval of Young’s affidavit, Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor will now have five days to nominate a new nominee for the upcoming secretary of state’s race. The SBEC will then have to approve said candidate.
Young, who has also been the subject of scrutiny over alleged residency issues, said his decision to withdraw was solely based on health concerns. He is believed to have voted in California as recently as 2020, per an Aug. 15 letter from officials with the secretary of state’s office. Mississippi law requires candidates seeking statewide office to be a citizen of the state for at least five years before the election.
“It had 100 percent nothing to do with my particular decision to withdraw from this particular race,” Young said. “Over the course of the last almost 24-plus months, I have been on the ground working hard to do my best to try and change Mississippi and in this particular race, especially after a major crisis had happened with me while on the road actually end up with blacking out, collapsing, and spending a night in a hospital and really trying to push forward through that in the months to come. Ultimately, my health was way more important than it was me finishing this race.”
At this time, it is unclear if the SBEC will move forward with looking into Young’s residency challenges, as well as if Watson will remain involved in the case.
