Before his tenure in the Indiana Senate, Young was Crawford County Auditor.

Young represented the 47th District after being appointment to succeed newly elected lieutenant governor Frank O'Bannon in 1988.

His district included parts of Crawford, Dubois, Harrison, Perry, Spencer, Warrick and Washington Counties.

He was the Democratic leader of the state senate from 1996 to 2008, but he stepped down to explore a run for Governor of Indiana.

Young served as the Ranking Democrat on the Agriculture and Natural Resources and Local Government committees.