Young was raised in rural Mississippi. After dropping out of high school at age 16, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi at age 20. He is a businessman whose ventures include real estate, property rental and marketing. He currently owns and operates four companies. He previously served as an Orange Beach Planning and Zoning Commissioner. Young also worked an an aide to former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. Young ran for Alabama Secretary of State in 2002. In 2010, Dean ran for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama. He dropped out of the race after then-Treasurer Kay Ivey switched from the governor's race to the lieutenant governor's race. Young ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Alabama's 1st District. Young was defeated by incumbent Jo Bonner in the March 13, 2012, primary. Dean Young was a 2013 Republican candidate for the U.S. House representing the 1st Congressional District of Alabama. No candidate secured more than 50 percent of the total vote in the September 24, 2013, Republican primary, prompting a runoff primary on November 5, 2013. Young and Bradley Byrne were the top two winners, and battled for the nomination in the runoff primary, where Young was defeated