Gordon M. Johnson

Last updated
Gordon Johnson
Gordon M. Johnson.jpg
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 37th district
Assumed office
January 11, 2022
Personal details
Born (1949-12-16) December 16, 1949 (age 74)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party Democratic
SpouseJacqueline
Children3
Education
Website Legislative webpage

Gordon M. Johnson (born December 16, 1949) is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented the 37th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since 2022, having represented the same district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2022. He has served in the Senate since 2022 as Assistant Majority Leader.

Contents

Biography

Johnson grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, where he still resides. His mother was a nurse and his father was a United States Customs Agent. He attended St. Cecilia High School, received a B.S. from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Social Science and Criminal Justice, and an M.A. from Seton Hall University in Administration and Supervision. [1] He served in the United States Army Reserve with the rank of Major (United States), and participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991 and Operation Joint Endeavor in 1996. Johnson retired with the rank of Major from the United States Army Reserve in 2000. He is highly decorated and holds the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, and Kuwait Liberation Medal.

He was the Bergen County Sheriff from 2001 to 2002, and was with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department since 1999. [1] Mr. Johnson was the first African-American to hold countywide office in Bergen and was the first African-American Sheriff in Bergen County. [2] Johnson served as an undersheriff in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, a position he has filled from 1999 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2005. In the days following September 11, 2001, Sheriff Johnson served as commander of the George Washington Bridge as part Bergen County's response to the terrorist attacks. According to the Record, Sheriff Johnson "has widely been credited with helping to ease the rancor and divisiveness within the department." [3]

He served for 24 years with the Englewood Police Department, attaining the rank of patrol sergeant. He is also experienced in labor relations and served as president of the State P.B.A. Supervisory Officers Association-Local #216.

On June 6, 2006, Johnson won the Democratic Party primary for the Engelwood City Council at-large by unseating incumbent Rev. Vernon Walton; Victory in the primary is tantamount to winning the seat in this Democratic Party stronghold. On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Johnson won the at-large seat, defeating Republican Harry Kanner. Johnson received 5,132 votes, with Kanner receiving 1,501 votes. [4] In August 2008, Johnson announced that he will be stepping down from his Englewood City Council seat by March 2008. While Johnson was grandfathered in from legislation banning dual office holding, he would step down to "follow the will of the people". [5]

New Jersey General Asembly

Gordon Johnson began his first term as a State Assemblyman in 2002, running on a ticket with Senator Byron Baer and Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg. During his first term, he was the prime sponsor of laws to expand DNA collection from violent offenders and requiring towing companies to accept cash and credit card payment. [1]

Johnson served as Chair of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee from 2006 to 2011 before becoming Majority Conference Leader in 2011. During his tenure as Chair, the committee took up legislation to abolish the death penalty. The committee also took up the issue of DNA evidence, expanding the collection of DNA for use by police, defendants, and those currently incarcerated. He has sponsored laws to commemorate the comfort women of World War II, enhanced the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, and reform the State Board of Medical Examiners. Johnson was the prime sponsor of legislation in the Assembly that would limit rent increases for certain seniors. Other bills have included the "DREAMer's act" a law that expands access to education for certain New Jersey students, rail and transportation safety, and veterans issues. Assemblyman Johnson recently sponsored legislation to expand New Jersey's film and digital media production tax credit program to generate revenue and jobs in New Jersey. [1]

During his 2007 campaign for the Assembly, Assemblyman Johnson faced Republican challengers Frank J. Cifarelli and Wojciech J. Siemaszkiewicz. Assemblyman Johnson received 21,228 votes, with the Republican vote at 9,051 and 8,921. In the 2009 general election, Johnson faced Republicans Barry Bellin and Siemaszkiewicz. Johnson received 32,845 votes with the Republicans receiving 16,266 and 15,635 votes. In the general elections in years 2011 and 2013 Assemblyman Johnson outpaced Republican challengers by an almost 2-1 margin. [6] [7]

In 2007 Johnson's contributions to Lyndon LaRouche's political action committee became a subject of criticism. Johnson reportedly gave a total of $1,850 in 2005 and 2006. He apologized repeatedly, saying he regretted not vetting the organization more carefully. [8] Johnson was reelected handily, though he received 1,200 fewer votes than his running mate, a dropoff of over 5%. [9] [10]

In the Assembly, he served as Deputy Conference Leader from 2010 to 2011, as Majority Conference Leader from 2012 to 2013, as Deputy Speaker from 2014 to 2018 and as Speaker Pro Tempore 2018 from 2021. [1]

New Jersey Senate

In 2021, after Loretta Weinberg's announcement that she would be retiring at the end of her term, Johnson declared he would seek the District 37 Senate seat. [11] Johnson's bid was endorsed by both Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Weinberg, along with the backing of the Bergen County Democratic party. [12] Johnson went against fellow Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle in the 2021 Democratic Primary and won, defeating her 3-1. [13]

Since 2022, Johnson has served in the Senate as Assistant Majority Leader. [1]

Committees

Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are: [1]

District 37

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly. [14] The representatives from the 37th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are: [15]

Electoral history

Senate

37th Legislative District General Election, 2023 [16]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gordon M. Johnson (incumbent) 27,466 72.1
Republican Dierdre G. Paul10,61027.9
Total votes38,076 100.0
Democratic hold
37th Legislative District general election, 2021 [17]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gordon M. Johnson 34,410 67.04
Republican Michael W. Koontz16,15531.48
New DirectionsGlenn Coley7591.48
Total votes51,324 100.0
Democratic hold

General Assembly

37th Legislative District General Election, 2019 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Gordon Johnson (incumbent) 19,602 36.05%
Democratic Valerie Vainieri Huttle (incumbent) 19,475 35.81%
Republican Angela Hendricks7,48413.76%
Republican Gino Tessaro7,33313.48%
Libertarian Claudio Belusic4850.89%
Total votes54,090 100%
Democratic hold

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Baer</span> American politician

Byron M. Baer was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature. He served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1993 and in the State Senate from 1994 to 2005, where he represented the 37th Legislative District. In the early 1970s, Baer was the primary author of the Open Public Records Act, New Jersey's Sunshine Law, and was an advocate of open government throughout his legislative career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loretta Weinberg</span> American politician

Loretta Weinberg is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as a member of the New Jersey Senate from 2005-2022, where she represented the 37th Legislative District. She also served as Senate Majority Leader. Weinberg served in the General Assembly before being selected to replace retiring Senator Byron Baer.

Valerie Vainieri Huttle is an American Democratic Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly where she represented the 37th Legislative District, from 2006 to 2022. Huttle served on the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2001 through 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Cardinale</span> American politician (1934–2021)

Gerald Cardinale was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the New Jersey State Senate from 1982 until his death in 2021, representing the 39th Legislative District. He also served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1980 until 1982. At the time of his death, he was the second-most senior senator in the state, behind Richard Codey, who also came to office in January 1982, but had served in the General Assembly since 1974. Cardinale was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1984, 1988 and 1992 and served as a Delegate to the New Jersey Republican State Platform Committee in 1983.

Jennifer Beck is an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey State Senate representing the 11th Legislative District from 2012 to 2018. Prior to redistricting, she served in the Senate from 2008 to 2012 representing the 12th Legislative District, serving portions of Monmouth and Mercer counties. Beck represented the 12th District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2006 to 2008.

Wayne P. DeAngelo is an American Democratic Party politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 14th Legislative District.

Maria Teresa Ruiz is an American Democratic Party politician, who has represented the 29th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since taking office on January 8, 2008. She has served as the Senate Majority Leader since 2022, becoming the first Latina to lead either the Assembly or Senate, after succeeding Loretta Weinberg upon her retirement from the Senate.

Charles "Ken" Zisa is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1994 to 2002, where he represented the 37th Legislative District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey's 37th legislative district</span> American legislative district

New Jersey's 37th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, covering the Bergen County municipalities of Bogota, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield Park, Teaneck and Tenafly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey's 39th legislative district</span> American legislative district

New Jersey's 39th Legislative District is one of 40 in the state, including portions of Bergen County. Included are the Bergen County municipalities of Allendale, Alpine, Cresskill, Closter, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montvale, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Auth</span> Member of the New Jersey General Assembly

Robert Joseph Auth is an American politician from New Jersey who represents the 39th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since taking office on January 14, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Corrado</span> Member of the New Jersey Senate

Kristin M. Corrado is an American Republican Party politician who has represented the 40th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since she was sworn into office on October 5, 2017. Before her appointment to the senate, she served as Passaic County Clerk for seven years.

Clinton Calabrese is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented the 36th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since February 10, 2018, when he was sworn in to replace Marlene Caride, who resigned from office after being nominated to serve as head of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Calabrese had served on the Board of Education of the Cliffside Park School District. He has been the Assembly's Deputy Whip since 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Verlina Reynolds-Jackson</span> Member of the New Jersey General Assembly

Verlina Reynolds-Jackson is an American Democratic Party politician who represents the 15th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly. Previously a member of the Trenton City Council, Reynolds-Jackson was sworn into office on February 15, 2018, to succeed Elizabeth Maher Muoio, who left office after being nominated to serve as Treasurer of New Jersey.

Lisa Swain is an American Democratic Party politician. A resident of Fair Lawn, she has represented the 38th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since she was appointed to the seat in May 2018.

Peter Christopher Tully, is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented the 38th Legislative District in the New Jersey Assembly since 2018. For the 2022-23 legislative session he serves as the Deputy Majority Leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jean Stanfield</span> Member-elect of the New Jersey General Assembly

Jean Stanfield is an American politician who served in the New Jersey Senate, representing the 8th Legislative District from 2022 to 2024. She previously served in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 8th Legislative District from 2020 to 2022. Stanfield served as Sheriff of Burlington County from 2002 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 New Jersey Senate election</span> State Senate elections of the U.S. state of New Jersey

The 2021 New Jersey State Senate election was held on November 2, 2021. New Jersey voters elected state senators in all of the state's legislative districts for a two-year term to the New Jersey Senate. This was the first election since 1991 where Republicans net gained state Senate seats. Democrats would later be restored to 25 seats following the party switch of Samuel D. Thompson in 2023.

Ellen J. Park is an American lawyer and Democratic Party politician who was elected in the 2021 New Jersey General Assembly election as an assemblywoman for New Jersey's 37th legislative district, making her the first Korean American woman to be elected to the New Jersey Legislature.

Christian Barranco is an American politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 25th district since 2024, before which he represented the 26th district after taking office on January 11, 2022. He served on the Pompton Lakes borough council from 2017 to 2019.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Senator Gordon M. Johnson, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed 2024—2025 Legislative Session.
  2. ↑ Johnson, Paul The Record, Dec. 4, 2004
  3. ↑ The Record, Dec. 6,2001, P. L10
  4. ↑ Englewood election results, The Record , November 8, 2006
  5. ↑ Kremen, Maya. "State lawmaker quits local council post ", The Record , August 25, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2008.
  6. ↑ Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed February 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ 37th Legislative District 2013 Election Results, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "LaRouche gift hurts Johnson at debate", The Record , October 31, 2007. Accessed November 20, 2007.
  9. ↑ "District 37 results" The Record , November 7, 2007. Accessed November 20, 2007.
  10. ↑ BERGEN COUNTY Statement of Vote for November 6, 2007 Archived 2008-10-01 at the Wayback Machine , [[Bergen County, New Jersey|]], dated November 19, 2007. Accessed November 21, 2007.
  11. ↑ "NJ Sen. Loretta Weinberg announces retirement after 28 years in Trenton". North Jersey Media Group. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  12. ↑ Friedman, Matt. "Murphy, Weinberg endorse Johnson for state Senate". Politico PRO.
  13. ↑ Livio, Susan K. (2021-06-09). "Johnson wins bitter Senate Democratic primary in fight to succeed Weinberg". www.nj.com. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  14. ↑ New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.
  15. ↑ Legislative Roster for District 37, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election" (PDF). New Jersey Department of State. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/04/2019 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 37th district
2002–2022
Served alongside: Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Huttle 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker pro tempore of the New Jersey General Assembly
2018–2022		Succeeded by
New Jersey Senate
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 37th district
2022–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.