Seeking to stand out for 2027

Delbert Hosemann got the attention of Mississippi voters in his 2007 campaign for statewide office through a campaign commercial where a woman continually got his first name wrong.

That commercial opened the door to him winning three terms as secretary of state and two terms as lieutenant governor.

Now, another political candidate hopes a campaign video out 20 years later will lead to him becoming Mississippi’s next secretary of state.

Shuwaski Young has published a video where he is seen shooting a semi-automatic rifle to go along with photos of him serving in the National Guard and text that says he is a Christian and a conservative.

The video with him holding and firing guns may seem unusual for someone seeking to become the state’s chief elections officer and the overseer of 16th section lands.

However, this will be Young’s first political campaign running as a Republican after running as the Democratic nominee in previous bids for secretary of state and for Congress.

The 2023 campaign for statewide office ended when he dropped out of the race for health reasons. He lost the race for the U.S. House to Republican incumbent Michael Guest in 2022.

In those campaigns, Young made reference to working in the administration of President Barack Obama. The biography on his website for the 2027 race makes no reference to Obama. Instead, it mentions his public service under Democratic and Republican administrations.

The run as a Republican may give Young his best chance of winning his first election. The GOP secured a lock on all statewide offices after Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood lost his 2019 bid for governor.

A victory would also make him Mississippi’s first Black statewide official since the 1800s.

But GOP state Sen. Jeff Tate of Meridian has already said he is seeking the same job that Republican incumbent Michael Watson is expected to give up in a run for higher office. And others may jump into the race as well when qualifying opens next year.

Still, Young is making moves now more than a year before the party primaries. That includes a Monday evening appearance in Tupelo before the Lee County Republican Women.

Tennessee election brings back Mississippi memory

You may be aware of today’s special election for the U.S. House in Tennessee’s Seventh Congressional District. It’s getting plenty of attention because the race between a Democrat and a Republican is believed to be much closer in a district that usually goes big for the GOP.

Chris Cillizza’s preview of this election included a look back by Decision Desk HQ of previous congressional special elections, and it included a huge upset locally in 2008 that got a lot of attention at the time. That’s when Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers, a Democrat, defeated Southaven Mayor Greg Davis, a Republican, for the U.S. House seat in North Mississippi. The seat in Mississippi’s First Congressional District came open when Representative Roger Wicker was selected to replace Senator Trent Lott, who had retired.

Even if the Democrat wins the special election in Tennessee, it still would not be as big of an upset as Childers defeating Davis 17 years ago to represent the region in Congress.

And then there’s next year

Election Day 2025

House District 22 Download

Here’s a map showing who in Chickasaw, Clay and Monroe counties will vote Tuesday in the special election for Mississippi House District 22 between Republican Rep. Jon Lancaster and Democratic challenger Justin Crosby.