An Indiana town leader and Republican Council candidate collapsed and died on Election Day while greeting voters at a polling station, according to reports.
59-year-old David “Red” Worrall was rushed to hospital but died following an apparent medical emergency at the Renaissance Academy polling station.
Worrall was an At-Large candidate for the town council.
WDRB reported he posthumously came in third.
Worrall previously served one term as Clarksville’s District 3 Town Councilman.
He later stepped down to deal with health issues.
“I was approached by several groups of people who wanted me to try and get back in,” the auto repair shop owner and Clarksville native said.
The Town of Clarksville released a statement following his death:
“It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of David ‘Red’ Worrall, who passed away earlier this afternoon,” town officials said on X Tuesday afternoon.
“A former member of the Clarksville Town Council and current At-Large candidate, David’s dedication to our community was truly commendable,” the statement continued.
“We will never forget his passion for public service and his unwavering desire to create positive change in our Town. David’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew him and the community he strived to serve.”
Town of Clarksville Statement on the passing of former District 3 Town Councilman David “Red” Worrall: pic.twitter.com/sYeg6j7P3c
— Town of Clarksville (@TownClarksville) November 8, 2023
According to his candidate page, Worrall had lived in Clarksville his entire life.
Other politicians shared their condolences on social media.
Democrat Council Member-elect said:
“Yesterday is still a blur in my mind. While working at the poll with family and friends of both parties we were reminded how fragile life can be.”
Republican At-Large candidate Jennifer Voignier, wrote on Facebook:
“Please say a prayer for his mom, brother and sister, family and all his close friends. He was a close and very dear friend who I greatly miss!!! RIP Red!!”
“Our community will not forget the good things Red epotimized [sic] about our community.”
“His love of family, love of friends, and a love and pride of the town we all call home.”
As NewsWeek noted, Tuesday was a big day for elections across the country, with Ohioans being called to vote on whether to enshrine reproductive rights in their state constitution and two governorships at stake in the South.
A majority of 56.3 percent of Ohioans—according to the Associated Press—voted yes on Issue 1, protecting abortion access under the state constitution. Some 57 percent of Ohio voters also cast their ballots in favor of legalizing marijuana.
Democrat Andy Beshear was re-elected in the deep-red state of Kentucky, while Republican Tate Reeves secured a second term as governor of Mississippi.
READ: Republican N Dakota State Senator and Entire Family Killed in Plane Crash
