{{short description|American politician}} {{For|other uses of the name Gordon Johnson|Gordon Johnson (disambiguation)}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Gordon Johnson |image = (05-08-2025) Gordon Johnson.jpg |state_senate = New Jersey |district = 37th |term_start = January 11, 2022 |term_end = |predecessor = Loretta Weinberg |successor = |office1 = Speaker pro tempore of the New Jersey General Assembly |term_start1 = May 24, 2018 |term_end1 = January 11, 2022 |predecessor1 = Jerry Green |successor1 = Benjie E. Wimberly |state_assembly2 = New Jersey |district2 = 37th |term_start2 = January 8, 2002 |term_end2 = January 11, 2022 |predecessor2 = Ken Zisa |successor2 = {{unbulleted list|Shama Haider|Ellen Park}} |birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1949|12|16}}}} |birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = Jacqueline |children = 3 |education = {{unbulleted list|St. Thomas Aquinas College (BA)|Seton Hall University (MA)}} |website = [https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/434/senator-johnson 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.
==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.<ref name=NJLEG/> 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.<ref name=NJLEG/> Mr. Johnson was the first African-American to hold countywide office in Bergen and was the first African-American Sheriff in Bergen County.<ref>Johnson, Paul The Record, Dec. 4, 2004</ref> 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."<ref>The Record, Dec. 6,2001, P. L10</ref>
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.<ref>[http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MDE2NzE3 Englewood election results], ''The Record'', November 8, 2006</ref> 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".<ref>Kremen, Maya. [http://www.northjersey.com/news/State_lawmaker_quits_local_council_post.html "State lawmaker quits local council post "], ''The Record'', August 25, 2008. Accessed August 28, 2008.</ref>
==New Jersey General Assembly== 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.<ref name=NJLEG/>
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.<ref name=NJLEG/>
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.<ref>[https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2011/2011-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-results-050817.pdf#page=37 ''Official List Candidate Returns for General Assembly For November 2011 General Election''], New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed February 27, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2013/2013-general-election-results-GenAssembly-StateSenate-district37.pdf 37th Legislative District 2013 Election Results], New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 27, 2022.</ref>
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.<ref>[http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2MDcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcyMTUzNTMmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky "LaRouche gift hurts Johnson at debate"], ''The Record'', October 31, 2007. Accessed November 20, 2007.</ref> Johnson was reelected handily, though he received 1,200 fewer votes than his running mate, a dropoff of over 5%.<ref>[http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MjE4NDMz "District 37 results"] ''The Record'', November 7, 2007. Accessed November 20, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/countyclerk/gen_2007.pdf#page=24 BERGEN COUNTY Statement of Vote for November 6, 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001180708/http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/countyclerk/gen_2007.pdf#page=24 |date=2008-10-01 }}, Bergen County, New Jersey, dated November 19, 2007. Accessed November 21, 2007.</ref>
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.<ref name=NJLEG/>
==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.<ref>{{cite web |title=NJ Sen. Loretta Weinberg announces retirement after 28 years in Trenton |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2021/01/13/nj-loretta-weinberg-retire-legislature-senate-trenton/6626191002/ |website=North Jersey Media Group |access-date=10 June 2021 |date=18 January 2021}}</ref> Johnson's bid was endorsed by both Governor Phil Murphy and Senator Weinberg, along with the backing of the Bergen County Democratic party.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Friedman |first1=Matt |title=Murphy, Weinberg endorse Johnson for state Senate |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2021/03/17/murphy-weinberg-endorse-johnson-for-state-senate-1368608 |website=Politico PRO |language=en}}</ref> Johnson went against fellow Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle in the 2021 Democratic Primary and won, defeating her 3-1.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Livio |first1=Susan K. |title=Johnson wins bitter Senate Democratic primary in fight to succeed Weinberg |url=https://www.nj.com/politics/2021/06/johnson-wins-bitter-senate-democratic-primary-in-fight-to-replace-weinberg.html |website=www.nj.com |access-date=10 June 2021 |language=en |date=2021-06-09}}</ref>
Since 2022, Johnson has served in the Senate as Assistant Majority Leader.<ref name=NJLEG/>
=== Committees === Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:<ref name=NJLEG>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/434/senator-johnson Senator Gordon M. Johnson], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed 2024—2025 Legislative Session.</ref> *Military and Veterans' Affairs (as chair) *Budget and Appropriations *Commerce
===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.<ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/constitution New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022.</ref> The representatives from the 37th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:<ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster?district=37 Legislative Roster for District 37], New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 29, 2024.</ref> *Senator Gordon M. Johnson <span {{Party shading/Democratic}}> (D)</span> *Assemblywoman Shama Haider <span {{Party shading/Democratic}}> (D)</span> *Assemblywoman Ellen Park <span {{Party shading/Democratic}}> (D)</span>
==Electoral history== ===Senate=== {{Election box begin no change |title = 37th Legislative District General Election, 2023<ref name=generalres>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2023/2023-official-general-results-state-senate.pdf|website=New Jersey Department of State|title=Official List, Candidates for State Senate for GENERAL ELECTION 11/07/2023 Election|date=December 6, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Gordon M. Johnson (incumbent) | votes = 27,466 | percentage = 72.1 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Dierdre G. Paul | votes = 10,610 | percentage = 27.9 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 38,076 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Democratic Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title = 37th Legislative District general election, 2021<ref name="GeneralResults">{{cite web |title=Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election |url=https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2021/2021-official-general-results-state-senate.pdf |publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey |access-date=December 12, 2021 |date=November 30, 2021}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Gordon M. Johnson | votes = 34,410 | percentage = 67.04 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Michael W. Koontz | votes = 16,155 | percentage = 31.48 }} {{Election box candidate minor party no change | party = New Directions | candidate = Glenn Coley | votes = 759 | percentage = 1.48 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 51,324 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Democratic Party (United States) | loser = Republican Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
===General Assembly=== {{Election box begin no change | title = 37th Legislative District General Election, 2019<ref name="GeneralCandidates">{{cite web|title=Official List, Candidates for General Assembly For PRIMARY ELECTION 06/04/2019 Election|url=https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2019/2019-official-primary-candidates-general-assembly.pdf|publisher=Secretary of State of New Jersey|access-date=April 28, 2019|date=April 11, 2019}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gordon Johnson (incumbent) | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 19,602 | percentage = 36.05% }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Valerie Vainieri Huttle (incumbent) | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 19,475 | percentage = 35.81% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Angela Hendricks | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 7,484 | percentage = 13.76% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Gino Tessaro | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 7,333 | percentage = 13.48% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Claudio Belusic | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | votes = 485 | percentage = 0.89% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 54,090 | percentage = 100% }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing | winner = Democratic Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster/434/senator-johnson Senator Johnson's legislative web page], New Jersey Legislature *''New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms'' **[http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2009.pdf 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813005502/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2009.pdf |date=2012-08-13 }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120813005522/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2008.pdf 2008] [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2007.pdf 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327023752/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2007.pdf |date=2009-03-27 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2006.pdf 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327023749/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2006.pdf |date=2009-03-27 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2005.pdf 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015005052/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2005.pdf |date=2006-10-15 }} [http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2004.pdf 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015004710/http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/ethics/FinancialDisclosure/JohnsonG2004.pdf |date=2006-10-15 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070406172753/http://www.realbergendemocrats.com/ Campaign Website for Weinberg Johnson, and Huttle 2007] *[http://www.njvoterinfo.org/?p=c/johnson.php New Jersey Voter Information Website 2005]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-nj-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Ken Zisa}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the New Jersey General Assembly<br>from the 37th district|alongside=Loretta Weinberg, Valerie Huttle|years=2002–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Shama Haider<br>Ellen Park}} |- {{s-bef|before=Jerry Green}} {{s-ttl|title=Speaker pro tempore of the New Jersey General Assembly|years=2018–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Benjie E. Wimberly}} |- {{s-par|us-nj-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Loretta Weinberg}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of the New Jersey Senate<br>from the 37th district|years=2022–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{New Jersey State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Gordon M.}} Category:1949 births Category:20th-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:African-American sheriffs Category:African-American state legislators in New Jersey Category:Living people Category:Military personnel from Bergen County, New Jersey Category:New Jersey city council members Category:Democratic Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Category:Sheriffs in New Jersey Category:Democratic Party New Jersey state senators Category:Politicians from Englewood, New Jersey Category:Seton Hall University alumni Category:St. Cecilia High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:St. Thomas Aquinas College alumni Category:United States Army officers Category:United States Army personnel of the Gulf War Category:United States Army reservists Category:21st-century members of the New Jersey Legislature