State Senator Chuck Younger on The Extra Mile Podcast from MDOT, March 2026
- Younger, a Republican who has served in the Mississippi Legislature since 2014 representing District 17, is the chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee.
State Senator Chuck Younger said Wednesday that he would run for Northern District Transportation Commissioner next year, seeking to succeed Commissioner John Caldwell who announced earlier this week that he would not be seeking a third term.
READ MORE: Caldwell won’t seek third term as Northern Transportation Commissioner
Younger, a Republican who has served in the Mississippi Legislature since 2014 representing District 17, is the chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. In that role, he has worked closely with the Mississippi Department of Transportation on funding priorities, highway safety, and improving capacity.
“For years, I have been at the table where Mississippi’s transportation policy is written, and I have consistently fought to improve our roads and bridges,” Younger said. “As Northern District Transportation Commissioner, I will bring that same fight for roads and bridges as a voice on the commission.”
Younger is also serving as vice chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee and sits on the chamber’s committees on Agriculture, Energy, Environment Protection, Ethics, Finance, Insurance, and Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
He said his being a farmer and rancher as well as serving in the Senate has showed him how important the condition of Mississippi’s highways is to economic development.
“I’ve been in agriculture my whole life, and there is one thing every farmer, logger, and manufacturer in the state agrees on: you can’t move goods without safe roads and bridges,” Younger said.
He said he is now running for Transportation Commissioner “to blend my knowledge of transportation and agriculture, as someone who has lived with the consequences of delayed maintenance of roads and fought for increased funding to fix it.”
During his time in the Senate, Younger has been an outspoken advocate for new, dedicated transportation funding that keeps pace with inflation.
Younger graduated from Heritage High School and attended East Mississippi Community College and Mississippi State University, and lives in Columbus with his wife, Missy. The couple have three children.
Younger is a member of Gideons, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Association, District 5 Volunteer Fire Department, Prairie Land Water Association, National Federation of Independent Business, National Rifle Association lifetime and Lowndes Forestry Association.
Frank Corder
