John Young
Republican | Louisiana
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Young
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
2nd Republican Primary (Runoff)
Race
Public Service Commission, Dist., 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Loyola University, New Orleans, Bachelor of Public Administration, 1975-1979
Loyola Law School, New Orleans, Juris Doctorate, 1979-1982
WORK & MILITARY
Hebert, Mouledoux & Bland, Partner, 1982-1992
John Young Law Firm LLC, Managing Member, 1992-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Regional Planning Commission, Member & Chairman, 2010-2016
Jefferson Bar Association, President, 2010-2011
Parishes Against Coastal Erosion, President, 2014-2015
Louisiana Police Jury Association, Executive Board Member, 2008-2016
New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Governmental Affairs Committee, 1999-2000
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Assistant District Attorney- Jefferson Parish, 1997-2004
Jefferson Parish Council-At-Large, 2004-2010
Jefferson Parish President, 2010-2016
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Public Service Commissioner, District 1, 2026-2026
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (4)
St. Tammany Parish Republican Executive Committee SPEC
Jefferson Parish Republican Party Executive Committee RPEC
Plaquemines Parish Republican Executive Committee RPEC
St. Charles Parish Republican Executive Committee RPEC
OTHER (1)
Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (8)
Jefferson Parish Republican Executive Committee
Plaquemines Parish Republican Executive Committee
Jefferson Parish Firefighters
St. Bernard Parish Republican Executive Committee
St. Charles Parish Republican Executive Committee
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019)
Republican Womens Organizations (2019)
Jeff Landry (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
James Garvey (2019)
Better Government Political Action (2018)
Clay Schexnayder (2018)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Louisiana Coalition for Change (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Thomas Jefferson Fund (2026)
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (2019)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
iVoterGuide Notes:
Please see John Young complete questionnaire using the link under the header "Information From Other Sources."
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I strongly believe in the sanctity of life and hold true to one exception: when the life of the mother is in immediate, grave danger.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I believe in a fair wage, but I also believe that government should not be in the business of dictating what companies must pay.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
I also believe that, as it pertains to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, a regulatory watchdog over utility companies is essential.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
I did this as President of Jefferson Parish. I cut government duplicitous assignments, reduced non-essential personnel in areas not critical to safety and/or quality of life, and restructured debt and government to save taxpayer money.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
I believe in freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. We should prevent the government from overseeing the church, without ever removing the freedom of religious expression from public life.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Neutral
Neutral, because I would have to know the reason behind such a policy. For example, if the purpose were to simply track which illnesses are costing the government the most, it may be acceptable.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
As Public Service Commissioner, I will direct staff to consider all ways that we can protect our grid from the threat of cyber-attacks. The LPSC has already opened a docket focusing on continuous utility monitoring, expert consultation, and limiting physical network exposure to hostile foreign states. I strongly support that initiative.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Extremely. We need to keep our allies close and protect them from those who demonize democracy.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
As an attorney and former prosecutor, I respect the rule of law. I understand that marriage between two consenting adults is the law of the land. Personally, I believe marriage is faith-based union between a man and a woman, not just a legal contract.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
Neutral, but I do not believe it is necessary or desired. As a prosecutor, I have seen first-hand the consequences of those who fall to the demon of addiction.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My Catholic faith is the foundation of my life. It shapes how I treat people, how I make decisions, and how I understand service to others. It is not something I wear on my sleeve. It is something I try to live every day with humility and consistency. I genuinely believe that my faith gives me a compass. It teaches me to value every person and to act with integrity. I do not pretend to be perfect, but I try to employ the values I was raised with on a daily basis. I am the proud father of five sons, and I try to instill in each of them to have a set of values that cannot be shaken.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Every community has a history of hardship or injustice somewhere in its past. That is real. However, I believe our responsibility now is to focus on solutions that lift people up today, not policies that divide us or are impossible to implement fairly.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
This is a policy in which my opponent and I are polar opposites. In 2021, a bill banning transgender athletes from competing on girls' sports teams was narrowly defeated in committee. My opponent, Stephanie Hilferty, was one of only two Republicans to vote the measure down. She clearly did not want it to get to the floor, because when it did get to the floor in a subsequent session, she suddenly had a change of heart.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Neutral
Where possible, we should do whatever is in our power to reduce the carbon footprint in our country, but not at the expense of our people or our future.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Small nuclear reactors (SMRs) and natural gas are the two most reliable sources of power.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
I am a true, strong conservative with views and values consistent with my positioning.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Protecting the community from harm is the system's most fundamental purpose and duty. Courts, Law Enforcement, and Corrections all exist to reduce crime and keep people safe. We must always keep the victim(s) of crimes in mind at every opportunity.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am a staunch and strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Many conservatives argue that the Second Amendment and public safety can coexist by focusing restrictions on individuals who have clearly demonstrated that they are a danger to others. I do believe that we should all agree to keep guns out of the hands of those individuals convicted of violent felonies, individuals with documented histories of domestic violence, and individuals that are a danger to themselves and/or to others.
