{{Short description|American politician (born 1971)}} {{Distinguish|Andrew Johnson Jr.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Andre Johnson Jr. | image = Fair Wage Act Hearings (52716804605) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Johnson in 2023 | state_delegate = Maryland | district = 34A | term_start = January 11, 2023 | term_end = | alongside = Steven C. Johnson{{efn|Not related to Steven C. Johnson}} | predecessor = Mary Ann Lisanti | succeeding = | office1 = Member of the Harford County Council, District A | term_start1 = December 4, 2018 | term_end1 = December 6, 2022 | predecessor1 = Mike Perrone, Jr. | successor1 = Dion Guthrie | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|19}} | birth_place = Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, U.S. | children = 5 | party = Democratic | education = Edgewood High School | website = [https://andrevjohnson.com/ Campaign website] | branch = {{army|United States}} | service_years = 1998–2015 | rank = Staff Sergeant }} '''Andre V. Johnson Jr.''' (born June 19, 1971)<ref>{{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Andre V. Johnson, Jr. |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/johnson02 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}</ref> is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 34A in Harford County. He previously represented District A in the Harford County Council from 2018 to 2022.<ref name="msa">{{cite web |title=Andre V. Johnson, Jr., Maryland State Delegate |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa17954.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=August 5, 2023 |date=March 15, 2023}}</ref>
==Background== Johnson was born at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Edgewood, Maryland,<ref name="msa" /> and attended Edgewood High School, graduating in 1990.<ref name="2018Primary">{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |title=Four candidates vying for District A seat on Harford County Council |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-districta-candidates-0525-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=June 8, 2018}}</ref> After graduating, he served in the United States Army as an armored crewman, and was deployed in Iraq. He retired from the Army in 2015 as a staff sergeant.<ref name="2018General">{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |title=Donna Blasdell vs. Andre Johnson in Harford District A council race |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-district-a-general-0829-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=August 31, 2018}}</ref> Johnson later worked as an investigator for the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development, and as a police officer for the Baltimore Police Department from 1997 to 1999.<ref name="msa" />
In 2018 Johnson ran for the Harford County Council in District A, seeking to succeed retiring county councilmember Mike Perrone.<ref name="2018Primary" /> He won the Democratic primary over former county councilmember Dion Guthrie by a margin of 199 votes out of 2,633 votes cast.<ref name="2018General" /> He won the general election on November 6, 2018, defeating Republican challenger Donna Blasdell and becoming the first Edgewood resident elected to the county council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |last2=Hendricks |first2=Ted |title=Harford votes for Glassman, Gahler, Vincenti, Peisinger |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-election-harford-county-races-20181106-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>
==Harford County Council== Johnson was sworn in to the Harford County Council on December 4, 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |title=Glassman launches second term as Harford County executive with call for unity, compassion |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-harford-inauguration-2018-1205-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=December 3, 2018}}</ref>
In February 2019, after it was reported that state delegate Mary Ann Lisanti had described a district in Prince George's County as a "n----- district" in a conversation with another legislator, Johnson said he wanted to hear Lisanti explain in her own words what transpired.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |last2=Butler |first2=Erika |title=Maryland delegate's use of racial slur draws outrage from lawmakers, civil rights advocates |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-delegate-apology-20190226-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 26, 2019}}</ref> After speaking to Lisanti, he called on her to resign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |title=Harford County organizations call for Lisanti's resignation before House hands down censure |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-lisanti-censure-0301-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>
In June 2021 Johnson announced that he would run for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 34A.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whitlow |first1=James |title=Harford Councilman Andre Johnson announces run for state delegate as political boundaries prepare for redrawing |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-state-delegate-run-20210628-fyfkxcdf7nbtjfp6u4ljvwiore-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> He won the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontelieu |first1=Jason |title=Here's how Harford County candidates are reacting to election results |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-harford-county-election-primary-facebook-email-vote-20220726-zrctjgt5mze6zeeluhfehy4bz4-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=July 26, 2022}}</ref> and ran on a "Johnson & Johnson" ticket with incumbent Democratic state delegate Steven C. Johnson in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=A look at the latest fundraising in a dozen competitive legislative districts |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/09/01/a-look-at-the-latest-fundraising-in-a-dozen-competitive-legislative-districts/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=November 19, 2022}}</ref> He won the general election on November 8, 2022, coming in first with 29.59 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kurtz |first1=Josh |title=Democrats retain legislative majorities, but some seats have shuffled between parties |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/11/09/democrats-retain-legislative-majorities-but-some-seats-have-shuffled-between-parties/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=Maryland Matters |date=November 9, 2022}}</ref>
==In the legislature== thumb|Johnson in the House Economic Matters Committee, 2025 Johnson was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 11, 2023.<ref name="msa" /> He is the first African American to represent Harford County in the Maryland General Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontelieu |first1=Jason |title=Republicans lead in almost all Harford County state legislature races |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-harford-county-republicans-general-assembly-2022-20221110-vnuqx5itsvh6rhcidrwoebt5wi-story.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=November 10, 2022}}</ref> Johnson is a member of the House Economic Matters Committee.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Danielle E. |title=Jones announces new Democratic caucus, committee leaders for 2023 General Assembly session |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/01/05/jones-announces-new-democratic-caucus-committee-leaders-for-2023-general-assembly-session/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |work=Maryland Matters |date=January 5, 2023}}</ref>
==Political positions== ===Crime=== In October 2019, following what police called a "targeted shooting" in Edgewood, Johnson called for increased community engagement and working closely with law enforcement to combat gang violence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Erika |title=Harford councilman says Edgewood 'can do better' after man killed in what police say was 'targeted' shooting |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-edgewood-fatal-shooting-follow-1002-20190930-ih637kz4yzeqfed6x2wudgxus4-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=October 1, 2019}}</ref>
===Development initiatives=== In April 2019 Johnson voted against a resolution to expand the Edgewood/Joppa Enterprise Zone to include land meant for a proposed Abingdon Business Park warehouse project, saying that while he supported the enterprise zone's expansion, he had concerns over the expansion's support for the proposed warehouse.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |title=Harford County Council approves expanding Edgewood/Joppa Enterprise Zone |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-edgewood-joppa-zone-expansion-0412-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=April 11, 2019}}</ref> In July 2019, he attended a protest against the warehouse's construction.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=David |title=Community members protest against Abingdon Business Park warehouse development |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-abingdon-woods-protest-0710-20190709-47j2l65zrfbxfcvcjcfyidnt4i-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>
In February 2022 Johnson said he supported imposing a moratorium to block the proposed construction of a 5.2 million square foot "mega warehouse" on the Perryman Peninsula.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontelieu |first1=Jason |title=Perryman residents urge County Council to pass warehouse moratorium |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-perryman-urge-harford-council-for-moratorium-20220203-24s6lwigcfgz7dpaxkde5g2kwa-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> In April 2022, Johnson voted for a bill that would place a building development moratorium on the Perryman Peninsula.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontelieu |first1=Jason |title=Harford County Council passes bill imposing moratorium on Perryman Peninsula development |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-perryman-development-moratorium-bell-council-20220420-3cjlmdaq4zek3gkvj6ac3gehxa-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=April 19, 2022}}</ref>
===National politics=== In January 2021 Johnson called on U.S. Representative Andy Harris to resign following his opposition to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=S. Wayne Jr. |last2=Barker |first2=Jeff |title=Harford County Councilman Andre Johnson latest to call on Rep. Andy Harris to resign |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-johnson-harris-letter-20210119-2yzhz3g6ibhhxpp4byvlzik4fq-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=January 19, 2021}}</ref> Harris responded to Johnson a few days later, calling Johnson's calls a "petty political machination" and attacking Johnson for failing to curb drug use and crime in his district. Johnson maintained that it was not a partisan issue and that Harris' response was dismissive of his point.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Whitlow |first1=James |title=Rep. Andy Harris fires back at Harford County councilman's call for his resignation |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-harris-response-20210122-tyrdgy5kcrgjjedux7ftuivxf4-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=January 22, 2021}}</ref>
===Redistricting=== In December 2021 Johnson voted against the Harford County Council's redistricting plan, which passed on a party-line vote of 6–1.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tansill-Suddath |first1=Callan |title=Harford County Council approves its own redistricting map, bypassing plan from bipartisan commission; Havre de Grace files suit |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-council-redistricting-map-dec8-20211209-xtjx6236k5bgnhlv6rl4rhwqr4-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref> The redistricting map was vetoed by county executive Barry Glassman on December 28,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontelieu |first1=Jason |title=Harford County executive vetoes County Council's redistricting map |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-harford-county-redistricting-map-veto-county-council-barry-glassman-20211227-ehffoirghbhghl47y5hg2ooa7m-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=December 28, 2021}}</ref> but the county council voted to override the veto on January 4, 2022, with Johnson again voting against the redistricting plan.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fontelieu |first1=Jason |title=Harford County Council overrides county executive's veto of its redistricting map |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/cng-ag-harford-county-council-redistricting-20220105-opggbap5efasfoc752h6xxjqli-story.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=The Aegis |date=January 4, 2022}}</ref>
==Personal life== Johnson is married and has five children.<ref name="msa" />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change | title = Harford County Council District A Democratic primary election, 2018<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Harford County | work = elections.maryland.gov | publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/primary/gen_results_2018_1_by_county_130.html | date = July 31, 2018}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Andre V. Johnson |votes = 1,416 |percentage = 53.8 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Dion F. Guthrie |votes = 1,217 |percentage = 46.2 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Harford County Council District A election, 2018<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for Harford County | work = elections.maryland.gov | publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_by_county_13-1.html | date = December 11, 2018}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Andre V. Johnson |votes = 8,156 |percentage = 56.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Donna Blasdell |votes = 6,339 |percentage = 43.7 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 16 |percentage = 0.1 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 34A Democratic primary election, 2022<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial Primary Election Results for House of Delegates | work = elections.maryland.gov | publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/primary_results/gen_results_2022_7_48.html | date = August 24, 2022}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Andre V. Johnson, Jr. |votes = 4,619 |percentage = 42.8 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Steven C. Johnson (incumbent) |votes = 3,486 |percentage = 32.3 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Sarahia Benn |votes = 2,682 |percentage = 24.9 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin no change | title = Maryland House of Delegates District 34A election, 2022<ref>{{cite web | title = Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates | work = elections.maryland.gov | publisher = Maryland State Board of Elections | url = https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/general_results/gen_results_2022_7.html | date = December 7, 2022}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Andre V. Johnson, Jr. |votes = 13,478 |percentage = 29.59 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Democratic Party |candidate = Steven C. Johnson (incumbent) |votes = 12,029 |percentage = 26.41 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Glen Glass |votes = 10,717 |percentage = 23.53 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Maryland Republican Party |candidate = Teresa Walter |votes = 9,248 |percentage = 20.31 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change |votes = 72 |percentage = 0.16 }} {{Election box end}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{cite web |title=Members – Delegate Andre V. Johnson, Jr. |url=https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/Details/johnson02 |website=mgaleg.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland General Assembly |access-date=January 11, 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}
{{Current members of the MD House of Delegates}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Andre V. Jr.}} Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:African-American state legislators in Maryland Category:Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Category:People from Edgewood, Maryland Category:United States Army non-commissioned officers Category:County commissioners in Maryland Category:Military personnel from Maryland Category:21st-century members of the Maryland General Assembly