Todd Young was born in 1972, grew up in Indiana, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995. He went on to serve as a Marine Corps intelligence officer until 2000.
Post-service, he leaned hard into policy and economics: he earned an MBA from the University of Chicago, a master’s in international relations from the University of London, and a JD from Indiana University. He won a U.S. House seat in 2010 and served there until 2017, when he moved up to the Senate.
Young’s brand is “national security Republican who can still cut a bipartisan deal.” He’s been out front on supply chains, tech competition with China, veterans’ care, and industrial policy. He was a lead architect of the CHIPS & Science Act to boost domestic semiconductor production and advanced manufacturing.
He’s also pushed to repeal outdated war authorizations, a signal that he wants Congress — not the executive — to control when the U.S. goes to war. He’s generally hawkish on China but more cautious about endless Middle East wars.
Mainstream Conservative
Achievements
- Lead architect of the CHIPS & Science Act to revive U.S. semiconductor manufacturing
- Co-sponsored efforts to repeal aging war authorizations and reassert congressional war powers
- Ranked among the most bipartisan senators in multiple recent sessions
- Active on Commerce, Foreign Relations, Finance, and Small Business — high-leverage committees for Indiana’s economy
Controversies
- Criticized for backing large Pentagon budgets and an expansive defense posture
- Faced backlash for voting against an independent commission to investigate January 6
- Opposes federal protections for abortion rights and same-sex marriage, drawing fire from Democrats
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Israel Public Affairs Cmte | $93,650 | $91,550 | $2,100 |
| Barnes & Thornburg | $79,109 | $74,609 | $4,500 |
| Elevance Health | $74,295 | $63,295 | $11,000 |
| LHC Group | $60,600 | $55,600 | $5,000 |
| Welsh, Carson et al | $49,410 | $49,410 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2016 Margin R +10.0%
2022 Margin R +20.7%