Charles “CJ” Young, who grew up on a ranch near Rawlins and has served in several state and federal roles, announced he is running for Wyoming secretary of state, framing the campaign around securing elections, streamlining business services and hardening state systems against cyberthreats.
Young pointed to a diverse résumé that includes time as Wyoming’s elections director, experience as a small business owner, service as the military and veterans liaison for the state’s congressional delegation and current duty as a U.S. Navy Reserve intelligence officer. He said those roles have given him a practical understanding of the administrative duties and responsibilities of the office he seeks.
"It isn’t a position about making headlines. It’s about ensuring elections are secure, helping Wyoming businesses succeed, protecting important state records, and serving the people of Wyoming with professionalism and integrity."
Priorities for the office
Young outlined a set of priorities he says will guide his tenure if elected. He emphasized measures to protect the integrity of elections while maintaining voter access, bolstering support for county clerks, modernizing the Business Division and expanding cybersecurity protections for state systems.
On elections, Young stressed the need to keep voting "easy for eligible citizens and difficult to abuse," and said his prior experience working alongside county clerks gives him perspective on local administration of elections. He described county clerks as "among the hardest-working public servants in Wyoming" and said the secretary of state’s office should be a responsive partner in Cheyenne.
Business services and records
Young said he wants to "modernize the Business Division" so entrepreneurs and small businesses can interact more efficiently with state government. He noted Wyoming's reputation as a business-friendly state and framed improvements as a way to maintain and build on that reputation.
Protecting state records also ranks high on Young’s list. He argued that as technology changes, so do the threats to government records, the business filings the office maintains and the election infrastructure the secretary oversees.
Cybersecurity focus
Young made cybersecurity a central component of his campaign pitch, saying preparedness is essential to defend against threats from "foreign adversaries and criminal organizations." He framed cybersecurity as a continuing responsibility that requires experience, planning and vigilance.
He added that maintaining up-to-date defenses is necessary to protect systems related to elections, business filings and other sensitive state data.
Campaign approach
Throughout the campaign, Young said he has been traveling the state and meeting with voters to hear their concerns. The announcement materials emphasize his connection to Wyoming — raised on a ranch near Rawlins — and a theme of service that spans local government, the military and federal liaison work.
Young did not release a detailed policy blueprint or specific legislative proposals in the announcement, but the themes he emphasized map directly to the statutory responsibilities of the secretary of state, including:
- Election administration: oversight and support to county clerks, ensuring secure and accessible voting.
- Business services: improving efficiency and accessibility for business filings and registrations.
- Records protection: safeguarding official state documents and archives.
- Cybersecurity: enhancing defenses against evolving digital threats.
| Priority | Focus |
|---|---|
| Elections | Secure administration, voter access, support for county clerks |
| Business Division | Modernization to aid entrepreneurs and small businesses |
| Cybersecurity | Protecting systems from foreign and criminal threats |
Young’s announcement underscores a common theme in recent secretary of state campaigns nationwide: the office’s combination of administrative responsibility and influence over public confidence in elections. The role in Wyoming includes supervising business registrations, maintaining public records, and coordinating with county officials who run elections at the local level.
As the campaign progresses, voters can expect to see additional detail on how Young would propose funding or implementing the modernization and cybersecurity measures he described, and how he would work with the Legislature and county clerks to carry out those priorities.
Charles "CJ" Young’s announcement adds his name to the roster of candidates seeking control of an office that has both operational duties and symbolic weight in Wyoming politics. Voters will be watching for specifics about how he intends to translate his professional background into concrete reforms if elected.
