Mike Johanns

Mike Johanns
United States Senator from Nebraska
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009 Serving with Ben Nelson
Preceded by	Chuck Hagel
28th United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office January 21, 2005 – September 20, 2007
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Ann Veneman
Succeeded by	Ed Schafer
38th Governor of Nebraska
In office January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005
Lieutenant	David I. Maurstad (1999-2001) Dave Heineman (2001-2005)
Preceded by	Ben Nelson
Succeeded by	Dave Heineman
47th Mayor of Lincoln
In office 1991–1998
Preceded by	Bill Harris
Succeeded by	Dale Young
Personal details
Born	Michael Owen Johanns June 18, 1950 (1950-06-18) Osage, Iowa
Political party	Republican (1988–present)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (Before 1988)
Spouse(s)	Stephanie Johanns
Residence	Omaha, Nebraska
Alma mater	St. Mary's University (B.A.) Creighton University (J.D.)
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Senator Mike Johanns

Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns (born June 18, 1950) is an Republican American politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2009. Previously he was the 38th Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005 and was United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007, becoming the fourth Nebraskan to hold the position. On November 4, 2008, Johanns was elected to the United States Senate for the state of Nebraska, becoming one of only two new Republican senators (with Jim Risch of Idaho) heading into the 111th United States Congress. In 2002 Johanns served as a Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association. He is expected to become Nebraska's senior senator upon the conclusion of retiring Senator Ben Nelson's term in January of 2013.

Early life, education, and law career

Johanns was born in Osage, Iowa, the son of Adeline Lucy (née Royek) and John Robert Johanns. His father was of German ancestry, and his maternal grandparents immigrated from Poland. He grew up living and working on his family's farm. After graduating from high school, Johanns went on to study at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona. He earned a law degree from Creighton University. After his graduation, Johanns began practicing law in O'Neill and Lincoln, Nebraska.

Early political career

Johanns served on the Lancaster County Board from 1983 to 1987 as a Democrat. In 1988 he was elected to the Lincoln City Council where he served from 1989 to 1991. He was elected as Mayor of Lincoln in 1991 and then again in 1995 with no opposition: the last Republican elected to that office to date. (His successor, Dale Young, was appointed by the Lincoln City Council.)

Governor of Nebraska

He then ran successfully to become the 38th Governor of Nebraska in 1998 by defeating Democratic opponent Bill Hoppner by a margin of 54% to 46%. He won reelection in 2002 by a landslide, defeating Democrat Stormy Dean by a margin of 69% to 27%.

Secretary of Agriculture

Mike Johanns speaks after being nominated by George W. Bush for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

On December 2, 2004, Johanns was nominated by President George W. Bush to replace outgoing Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. As a result, he scrapped plans to run against Democratic Senator Ben Nelson in 2006. Johanns was confirmed by the Senate on January 20, 2005, hours after Bush's second inauguration. He tendered his resignation as Governor of Nebraska on that day. On the next day he was sworn in.

U.S. Senate

2008 election

Main article: United States Senate election in Nebraska, 2008

On September 20, 2007, he resigned as Agriculture Secretary to run for the United States Senate. Johanns officially announced his bid on October 10, 2007 to run for the Senate seat to be vacated by Senator Chuck Hagel, who decided not to run for re-election. On November 4, 2008, he was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb in the general election.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Energy, Science and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant and Animal Health (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
  • Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
• Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion
  • Subcommittee on Science and Space
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Committee on Indian Affairs
• Impeachment Trial Committee on the Articles against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.

Caucus memberships

• International Conservation Caucus
• Parkinson’s Disease Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Sportsmen's Caucus

Personal life

Johanns is married to Stephanie Johanns, a former Lancaster County Commissioner and Nebraska State Senator. They have two children and five grandchildren.

External links

• Senator Mike Johanns official U.S. Senate site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• White House Biography (archived)
• USDA Biography

Political offices
Preceded by Bill Harris	Mayor of Lincoln 1991–1998	Succeeded by Dale Young
Preceded by Ben Nelson	Governor of Nebraska January 7, 1999 – January 20, 2005	Succeeded by Dave Heineman
Preceded by Ann Veneman	United States Secretary of Agriculture Served under: George W. Bush January 21, 2005 – September 20, 2007	Succeeded by Ed Schafer
United States Senate
Preceded by Chuck Hagel	United States Senator (Class 2) from Nebraska 2009–present Served alongside: Ben Nelson	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Gene Spence	Republican nominee for Governor of Nebraska 1998, 2002	Succeeded by Dave Heineman
Preceded by Chuck Hagel	Republican nominee for United States Senator from Nebraska (Class 2) 2008	Succeeded by Current nominee
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Tom Udall D-New Mexico	United States Senators by seniority 73rd	Succeeded by Jeanne Shaheen D-New Hampshire