Meet Michael
Michael Younger is a seasoned leader with nearly two decades of success in both the public and private sectors. From shaping strategies at Fortune 100 companies to driving transformative change in California’s state agencies, his work is fueled by lived experience and a deep commitment to uplifting all Californians. Ready to lead as our next governor, Michael is focused on amplifying voices, especially those long unheard.
He knows what it means to face the odds, overcome obstacles, and not just be the difference but lead others toward it. Michael is running for the multi-generational and multi-cultural, for the disinvested and marginalized, and for the well-established—because in his vision for California, everyone has a role.
A Leader Forged by Community
Born in Central California and raised on the Monterey Peninsula, Michael Younger's early life was shaped by adversity. His single mother, once a field laborer in the San Joaquin Valley and later a nurse for 25 years, taught him resilience, the dignity of work, and the importance of equitable pay. Despite experiencing periods of being unhoused, as a child, and losing his father to the Crack Epidemic, Michael grew stronger. With the support of his community—the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey, the California Police Activities League, teachers, family, and mentors—he became a trailblazer.
The Business Executive
After earning a scholarship and graduating from Stevenson School, a boarding and day high school in Pebble Beach California, Michael attended the prestigious USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. He then joined the AT&T management team where he excelled at AT&T Mobility, managing bi-coastal teams and key partnerships with major corporations like Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, and Apple. Michael oversaw a multi-million-dollar budget in wireless planning and strategy for both consumer and business operations, playing a pivotal role in early-stage innovations and technology launches during his tenure.
Inspired by Family
As a teenager, Michael met Sabrina, one of his older sister’s good friends. This encounter would prove to be the start of something very special. After reconnecting a decade later in the Bay Area, Michael, then a college graduate, married the love of his life, and together they became the proud parents of two children. Their shared experiences and commitment to serving others led them to Sacramento, where both pursued careers in the public sector. Sabrina has led health and equity initiatives at the California Department of Health Care Services for nearly a decade.
The Public Servant
Michael has held several transformational roles while working for the State of California. His leaderships spans across some of the state’s most essential agencies and departments including the California Department of Insurance (CDI), the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), and most recently the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, where for the first time in California’s history he was unanimously confirmed by the full California State Senate as a Governor-appointed Deputy Secretary leading the state’s Workforce and Economic Development Strategy.
Currently, Michael serves as Vice President of Workforce, Strategy & Innovation at Calbright College, California’s first fully online, statewide, competency-based community college, which is free for all Californians.
The Opportunity
California is at a crossroads. Michael Younger's lived experiences and professional careers in both the private and public sectors herald a new era of leadership.
Michael is ready to guide all Californians with compassion, strength, and vision. His path exemplifies how resilience, community, and a commitment to justice can drive meaningful change. He envisions a future where every Californian—regardless of background and circumstance—has the resources to thrive and a voice to shape their own destiny. Together, we can create a state where our voices are heard, and everyone has a seat at the table.
Join Michael on this historic road toward a brighter, more inclusive California.
