Steven
Young
Green Party candidate Steven Young seeks the 2026 Minnesota governorship; former Marine, attorney, and grocery-store owner from Minneapolis
- sources
- 10
- positions
- 10
- endorsements
- 2
Background
Steven Young is the Green Party candidate for governor of Minnesota in the November 3, 2026 general election, running alongside lieutenant governor candidate Jane Kirby. He lives in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis and is currently employed as a light-rail operator at Metro Transit. 31519
Young's background spans military service, law, and small business. According to the Green Party of Minnesota, he served 12 years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry unit leader, accumulated nine years of corporate-law experience, and owned and operated Bryn Mawr Market, a neighborhood grocery store. He also previously served as a member of the Minneapolis Food Council. 119
Young holds an associate degree from Salt Lake Community College, a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah, a JD from the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law, and an LL.M. from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. 2
He has no prior elected public office. The 2026 governor's race is an open-seat contest; Young is not the incumbent. 4
At a glance
- Party
- Green
- Running for
- Governor, Minnesota
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Light-rail operator, Metro Transit
- Website
- steveformngov.info(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownendorsementRed River Valley DSA endorsed Young 'earlier this year,' exact date unspecified
Alpha News reported that the Red River Valley chapter of Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Young at some point earlier in 2026, without specifying a date.
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 28newsKAXE governor election guide profiles Young as the Green Party candidate
KAXE's governor-election guide published September 28 listed Steven Young as the Green Party candidate, identifying his website, community, and employment.
Governor 2026 Election Guide | KAXE · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24newsAlpha News reports Young's platform: abolish ICE, sanctuary state, ban hyperscale data centers
Alpha News described Young's platform as supporting abolishing ICE, making Minnesota a sanctuary state, and banning hyperscale data centers, along with Green Party positions including guaranteed basic income, single-payer health care, environmental protections, and the BDS movement.
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24debateYoung listed among invited candidates for MNSU Mankato midterm-election candidate forum
Minnesota State University Mankato's student-government event listing included Young among invited candidates for a September 24 midterm-election forum. Whether he attended was not confirmed by the source.
Mid-Term Election Candidate Forum - Student Government · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24newsYoung calls Klobuchar and Demuth 'sellouts,' claims better chance of winning than Demuth
In comments reported by Alpha News on September 24, Young said his campaign would attract voters who otherwise would not vote for governor and claimed he had a better chance of winning than Demuth, calling both major candidates 'sellouts.'
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24pollPoll shows Young at 3% in Minnesota governor's race (KSTP/SurveyUSA, mid-September)
Alpha News reported a KSTP/SurveyUSA poll conducted in mid-September showing Amy Klobuchar at 47%, Lisa Demuth at 40%, Young at 3%, and 9% undecided. Exact field dates, sample size, and margin of error were not provided.
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 23debateDemuth reported to want Young included in gubernatorial debates
A September 23 campaign newsletter reported that Lisa Demuth wanted Young included in debates. Klobuchar and Demuth had agreed to a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce forum in Brainerd on October 19; the sources did not confirm Young would participate.
morning take | AG Race Heats Up · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 19endorsementGreen Party of Minnesota lists Young and Kirby among its endorsed 2026 candidates
The Green Party of Minnesota's candidate page, updated September 19, lists Steven Young and Jane Kirby among the candidates the party endorsed for 2026.
Meet Our Candidates! · Sep 19, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 15filingYoung and Kirby listed among three governor tickets on Minnesota's general election ballot
By September 15, news coverage confirmed Steven Young and Jane Kirby as the Green Party ticket among the three governor–lieutenant governor tickets in Minnesota's general election. No filing date or official ballot-certification milestone was specified.
Early voting begins Friday in Minnesota: What voters need to know · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jul 1newsYoung criticizes Klobuchar's association with Sen. Lindsey Graham
In a July interview reported by Alpha News, Young criticized Klobuchar for her association with Sen. Lindsey Graham. The exact date of the interview was not specified.
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 1newsYoung criticizes Klobuchar for funding 'genocide in Gaza' in interview
In a June interview reported by Alpha News, Steven Young criticized Amy Klobuchar for funding what he called 'the genocide in Gaza.' The exact date of the interview was not specified.
Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ... · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Red River Valley Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organizationListed among endorsements reported by candidate on iVoterGuide. Alpha News reported on September 24, 2026 that Young had been endorsed by the chapter 'earlier this year,' but no primary announcement with an exact date was found. ivoterguide.com
- Green Party of Minnesota organizationEndorsed at the state endorsing convention; announced May 19, 2026. The announcement also lists running mate Jane Kirby for lieutenant governor. gp.org · Apr 18, 2026
Sources 10
- [1] Voter Guide Profile for MN Governor candidate - Steven Young(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] Minnesota Governor - Voter Guide - VOTE411.org(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] Governor 2026 Election Guide | KAXE(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [4] Green Party governor candidate wants to abolish ICE, slams ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [5] Mid-Term Election Candidate Forum - Student Government(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [6] morning take | AG Race Heats Up(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [7] Meet Our Candidates!(opens in a new tab) Sep 19, 2026
- [8] Early voting begins Friday in Minnesota: What voters need to know(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [9] Green Party of Minnesota Endorsements - www.gp.org(opens in a new tab) May 19, 2026
- [10] Steven Young — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) May 3, 2026