Geoff Young
 is a retired engineer and perennial political candidate residing in Lexington, Kentucky.[1][2] Young has repeatedly sought election to offices including Kentucky governor and seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, primarily as a Democrat, though without securing victory in any general election.[3][4] His campaigns emphasize anti-war policies, such as abolishing the CIA and halting U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine, alongside anti-corruption measures targeting corporate influence in government.[5][6] In 2022, Young won the Democratic primary for Kentucky's 6th congressional district but encountered rejection from state party officials and Governor Andy Beshear, who withheld endorsement due to his criticism of Democratic foreign policy stances on Ukraine and Israel.[7][8] Subsequently, in 2024, he co-founded the Kentucky Party as a third-party alternative focused on pro-peace and anti-corruption principles.[9] Young has faced legal disputes, including a 2025 lawsuit against a foreign currency exchange for allegedly compelling the sale of his Russian rubles holdings amid geopolitical tensions.[10]Early Life and Education
Upbringing and Family
Geoffrey M. Young was born on June 25, 1956, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in the nearby town of Marblehead in a middle-class Jewish family.[1][11] His parents emphasized academic achievement, encouraging him to apply to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Young worked diligently through the public school system to secure admission.[11] In 1982, at age 26, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, for a position in state government focused on renewable energy.[11][12] Young is married to Claire Young and follows Unitarian Universalism.[1]Academic Background
Geoffrey M. Young earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, attending from 1974 to 1977.[13][1][14] In 1982, Young relocated to Fayette County, Kentucky, to pursue graduate studies at the University of Kentucky, where he completed a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics in 1988.[14][3][15] No further advanced degrees are documented in available records.Professional Career
Engineering Roles
Young earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1981.[3] After completing his graduate studies, he worked as a staff engineer at the Kentucky Small Business Development Center from 1982 to 1983.[1] From September 1991 to November 1994, Young served as an Environmentalist Principal at the Kentucky Division of Energy, with primary responsibilities including the administration of state grants for energy conservation projects targeting schools, hospitals, local governments, and nonprofits. In this role, he evaluated grant applications, monitored project implementation, and ensured compliance with energy-saving standards. Subsequently, from November 1994 to at least 2005, Young held the position of Assistant Director for Energy Programs at the Kentucky Division of Energy (later reorganized under the Energy and Environment Cabinet), a role he maintained for approximately 13 years.[16] [3] His duties emphasized promoting energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies across Kentucky's residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors, including advocacy for solar and wind power adoption.[3] Over his 15-year tenure in Frankfort state government positions from 1991 to 2005, Young contributed to policy development aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependency through technical assessments and program oversight.[3] He retired as a state engineer thereafter.[4][17]Work in Agricultural Economics
Young earned a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Kentucky in 1988.[3] This academic credential followed his Bachelor of Science in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977.[18] Despite this specialization, available records indicate no dedicated professional roles or employment in agricultural economics, such as positions at agricultural agencies, research institutions, or private sector firms focused on farm policy, commodity markets, or rural development.[3] His subsequent career trajectory shifted toward engineering and environmental positions within Kentucky state government, including roles at the Division of Energy from 1991 to 1994 and later in the Energy and Environment Cabinet. Young has occasionally been described as an agricultural economist in political biographies, likely referencing his graduate training rather than applied professional experience.[14]Political Career
Entry into Politics and State-Level Runs
Geoff Young first entered electoral politics in 2012 as the Green Party nominee for the Kentucky House of Representatives in District 45. He received 2,110 votes, comprising 8.7 percent of the total, in the general election on November 6, losing to incumbent Republican Stan Lee. Young switched affiliations to the Democratic Party ahead of subsequent campaigns. In the 2015 Democratic primary for Kentucky governor held on May 19, he secured 37,887 votes, or 21.2 percent, finishing second behind Jack Conway. He launched another bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2019, announcing his candidacy earlier that year. On May 21, Young obtained 8,923 votes, equating to 2.3 percent and placing last among the primary contenders, with Andy Beshear emerging victorious.[14] Young ran for governor once more in the 2023 Democratic primary, challenging incumbent Andy Beshear. He announced his campaign on November 13, 2022, via social media and received 9,865 votes, or 5.1 percent, on May 16, 2023, failing to advance.[19][3]Congressional Campaigns
Geoff Young ran as a Democrat for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in multiple election cycles, emphasizing anti-war policies and criticism of establishment figures in both parties. In 2016, he prevailed in a crowded Democratic primary before losing the general election to incumbent Republican Andy Barr. He placed last in the 2018 Democratic primary, which was won by Amy McGrath. Young again sought the Democratic nomination in 2020 amid a field including McGrath, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, and state Senator Reggie Thomas.[20] In the May 17, 2022, Democratic primary for the 6th district, Young narrowly defeated truck driver Chris Preece with 52 percent of the vote to Preece's 48 percent, securing the nomination.[21] Despite the victory, the Kentucky Democratic Party and Governor Andy Beshear declined to endorse him, citing Young's public statements describing Israel's military actions in Gaza as "genocide" and accusing President Joe Biden of enabling it, positions viewed by party leaders as damaging to Democratic prospects.[7] [22] Young waged an unconventional campaign focused on in-person events and media appearances rather than television advertising, while Barr emphasized ads highlighting Young's lack of party support.[23] In the November 8, 2022, general election, Barr defeated Young to secure a sixth term.[24] Young shifted districts for 2024, challenging incumbent Democrat Morgan McGarvey in Kentucky's 3rd congressional district primary on May 21. He finished second with 5,875 votes.[25] McGarvey won renomination handily.[26]Electoral Performance and Primary Losses
Geoff Young has sought Democratic nomination in multiple primaries for U.S. House, gubernatorial, and state legislative races in Kentucky, often finishing with low vote shares in crowded fields dominated by better-funded or more established candidates.[3] His primary performances reflect limited intra-party support, with vote percentages typically under 20% except in less competitive fields, such as a 2022 U.S. House primary win against a single opponent.[3] In general elections where he advanced, Young underperformed against Republican incumbents, capturing minority shares of the vote in districts leaning conservative. Young's earliest notable primary challenge came in the 2014 Democratic primary for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, where he received 39.1% against Elisabeth Jensen but failed to advance.[3] He ran again for the same seat in 2016, earning 19.9% in the primary against Nancy Jo Kemper.[3] The 2018 primary for the 6th District saw Young garner just 1.6% amid a six-candidate field led by Amy McGrath, who secured the nomination with 45.3%.[3] In 2019, seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, Young obtained 2.3% in a primary won by Andy Beshear with 37.9%.[3]| Year | Race | Primary Vote Share | Outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | KY-6 U.S. House (Dem) | 39.1% | Loss | [3] |
| 2015 | KY Governor (Dem) | 21.2% | Loss | [3] |
| 2016 | KY-6 U.S. House (Dem) | 19.9% | Loss | [3] |
| 2018 | KY-6 U.S. House (Dem) | 1.6% | Loss | [3] |
| 2019 | KY Governor (Dem) | 2.3% | Loss | [3] |
| 2020 | KY-6 U.S. House (Rep) | 4.0% | Loss | [3] |
| 2023 | KY Governor (Dem) | 5.1% | Loss | [3] |
| 2024 | KY-3 U.S. House (Dem) | 11.2% | Loss | [3] [27] |