Young launches campaign for governor with local event

Tracy’s former Mayor Nancy Young held her first campaign event of the election year on Saturday shortly after announcing her candidacy for Governor of California.

On the steps of Tracy City Hall, Young brought up several supporters who would attest to how she has affected their lives through her leadership and mentorship, emphasizing the philosophy that Young intends to bring to the campaign, and if successful, to the governor’s office.

Young is one of 62 candidates on the June 2 primary ballot and is running as a non-partisan “no party preference” candidate. A group of young people, including former Kimball High Black Student Union President Jennyfer Bwata, now attending U.C. Davis, talked about the inspiration they gained from Young during her 12 years on the Tracy City Council, including four as mayor from 2020 to 2024.

“What I learned over time is that true leadership is not about having all the answers, it's about how willing you are to serve,” Bwata said.

“I learned that leadership requires patience, humility, and most importantly service, because what truly makes people follow you, and what makes people trust you, and what makes people believe in you, is not just what you say. It's how you show up for others. And when I think about someone who embodies that kind of leadership, in so many ways, I think of Dr. Nancy Young.

Emma Dunn, 13, added that Young has inspired her, especially through her willingness to engage with and listen to teens, enough to motivate her to join Young’s campaign.

“I can say that she has phenomenal ideas for the state, from making things like housing more affordable, education, homelessness, and so many other things,” Emma said. “I recently attended her Unapologetic Leadership boot camp routines this past spring, and I have to say that she is an amazing speaker who is not afraid to speak up for what she truly believes in.”

Shivani Shibu, a senior at Kimball High, served as an intern with Young during her last term as mayor.

“She sees potential in others before they see it in themselves. She lifts them up, believes in them fiercely, and inspires them to step forward. I know this because as a shy high school student I experienced it firsthand,” she said.

“I walked into her office, doubting my own voice, but Dr. Nancy listened and she encouraged me. She reminded me that young people belong at the table, that our communities need our ideas, our energy, and our hope. Because of her faith in me, I found courage which I didn't know I had. That quiet spark she ignited has grown into my dream of studying public health in college.”

Clara Voss said she was speaking on behalf of Tracy’s senior citizens, having served with Tracy Seniors Association, and also as President of Young Connects, an extension of the Tracy Connects event that has happened in Lincoln Park during the past couple of summers, an event that Young organized along with the Tracy Chamber of Commerce.

“With a powerful vision we bring people together, not just organizations, not just donors, but real people. Neighbors helping neighbors, communities lifting up each other. Her work has created bridges between citizens, available resources, and nonprofits,” Voss said.

“She shows that real change doesn't come in one-size-fits-all. It comes from empowering people locally, listening carefully and acting decisively. This is exactly the kind of leadership that California needs and wants right now.”

Young emphasized her non-partisan “vote purple” stance as a way to reach a wider range of California voters.

“I've encouraged people through my tenure and leadership to make room for someone else at the table. Since I started leading I realized that sometimes there's just not going to be room at a table for someone,” she said. “So I make my own table and I invite more people to the table because so many more people have things to say if we would listen, and not just listen but take action on that.

“Now in California we need leadership that is not afraid to speak up for what's right. So many people are conforming and just want to say what's politically correct. I've never been that one. If you watch any of the tapes from when I was mayor or even a council member, or even in life, period, you can't just conform to the things that are going on around us. We need to be able to be bold and step out of the box and find real solutions to real issues that are happening to be able to address the issues, to acknowledge the issues.”

Young added that working beyond party lines is the way to serve all of California.

“This campaign, right here, is not about politics as usual. This is about bringing people back together, restoring integrity, giving power back to the people where it belongs, because your voice matters and our families matter.”

Young plans to have her next campaign event in Southern California on Tuesday, April 7, 10 a.m. to noon, at Northridge Park in Northridge.