State Sen. Chuck Younger is looking to leave his position in the legislature to oversee transportation efforts in north Mississippi.
The Republican from Columbus announced Wednesday that he is running for northern district transportation commissioner, a seat current officeholder John Caldwell is departing. Caldwell recently announced that he is not seeking reelection in 2027. Younger believes he is a natural fit for the job, as he has chaired the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee.
“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, who has represented District 17 in the Mississippi Senate since 2014, has overseen all transportation bills considered in his legislative chamber as a committee chairman. A farmer and rancher by trade, Younger said his years in the Senate 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. “I am 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.”
As Transportation Committee chairman, Younger boasts that he has worked closely with the Mississippi Department of Transportation on funding priorities, highway safety, and improving capacity, and has been an outspoken advocate for new, dedicated transportation funding that keeps pace with inflation.
Primary elections will take place for state races in Mississippi next August, with the general election scheduled for Nov. 2, 2027.