Charles “C.J.” Young is a lifelong Wyomingite, public servant, small business owner, and community leader who believes in honest government, personal responsibility, and treating people with respect. Raised on a ranch in rural Wyoming, C.J. learned early the values of hard work, self-reliance, and caring for both the land and animals that depended on his family every day. Those experiences shaped his belief in community, service, and personal responsibility — values that continue to guide him today.
C.J. most recently served as the Military and Veterans Liaison for Congresswoman Harriet Hageman, helping Wyoming veterans and service members navigate federal agencies, assisting with outreach across the state, and working directly with Wyoming communities. He resigned from that role to dedicate himself full time to meeting with Wyoming voters and campaigning for Secretary of State because he believes Wyoming deserves steady, professional, and dependable leadership focused on serving the people of the state.
Prior to his congressional service, C.J. served as Director of the Elections Division in the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office, where he worked closely with county clerks, state leaders, and federal partners on election operations, administration, and security. Having previously helped manage the day-to-day operations of the Elections Division, C.J. understands how the Secretary of State’s Office functions and believes Wyoming deserves leadership that can effectively serve the public from day one.
Before his work in elections and congressional service, C.J. spent years with the Wyoming Department of Corrections, helping oversee grievance investigations, policy, compliance, and public information efforts. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for professionalism, problem-solving, and bringing people together to accomplish difficult tasks while treating others with fairness and respect. As a small business owner, he also understands the challenges Wyoming businesses face and the importance of responsive, predictable, and transparent government.
Service has always been central to C.J.’s life and family. His father has practiced rural medicine in Carbon County for more than 30 years, dedicating his career to caring for Wyoming families and communities. His younger brother is currently completing medical residency training with plans to return home and continue supporting rural healthcare in Wyoming. C.J.’s late mother was also a tremendous influence in his life, instilling in him a deep respect for faith, community, and public service that continues to inspire him every day.
In addition to his civilian career, C.J. serves his country as an officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He also volunteers with Civil Air Patrol, where he has dedicated time to mentoring Wyoming youth, supporting emergency service missions, and promoting aerospace education throughout the state. C.J. earned degrees from Western Wyoming Community College, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Wyoming College of Law. He enjoys Wyoming history, aviation, spending time with friends and family, and remaining connected to the communities and traditions that make Wyoming unique.
As a candidate for Wyoming Secretary of State, C.J. believes government should be transparent, efficient, and focused on practical results — protecting election integrity, supporting Wyoming businesses, and ensuring state government works effectively for the people it serves while preserving the Wyoming values that make the state strong.