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Jarvis Johnson

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This article is about the Texan politician. For the online content creator, see Jarvis Johnson (YouTuber).
Jarvis Johnson
Johnson in 2022
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 139th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 19, 2016
Preceded bySylvester Turner
Member of the Houston City Council
from the B District
In office
January 2, 2006 – January 2, 2012
Preceded byCarol Galloway
Succeeded byJerry Davis
Personal details
Born
Jarvis Diallo Johnson

(1971-09-27) September 27, 1971 (age 53)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCharlene Ward (divorced)
EducationTexas Southern University (BA)

Jarvis Diallo Johnson (born September 27, 1971) is an American entrepreneur and politician currently serving in the Texas House of Representatives. A Democrat, he has represented the 139th district since 2016 and previously served on the Houston City Council.

Early life and career

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Johnson grew up in Houston's Fifth Ward.

Johnson graduated with a B.A. from Texas Southern University. While in college, he became executive director of Phoenix Outreach Youth Center in 1995. Johnson resigned this position in 2008 to focus his efforts on District B as a full-time city council member.

Johnson is the owner of Aunt Bea's Restaurant, co-owner of two daycares in Houston, and president of Commagere International Consultant Group.

Political career

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Houston City Council (2005–2009)

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In 2005, Johnson ran for Houston City Council District B, a seat held by term limited Carol M. Galloway. In an eight candidate race, Johnson received nearly 4,000 votes, earning a spot in the December run off election. In December 2005, Johnson won the Houston City Council District B race by over 60% of the vote. He was subsequently re-elected to a second and third term.

Johnson inspects a worn house in District B.

Johnson served as chair of the City of Houston's Human Services and Technology Access Committee. Johnson also served on the Houston City Council Flooding and Drainage, Housing and Community Development, International Liaison and Protocol, M/WBE, Small Contractor Development and Contract Compliance, Pension Review, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Regulation, Development, Neighborhood Protection and Transportation, Infrastructure & Aviation committees.

Johnson during the annual toy give away

Johnson was arrested in 2010 on a felony charge of evading arrest.[1]

2010 U.S. House of Representatives campaign

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On January 5, 2010, Johnson announced his candidacy for Texas's 18th Congressional District seat, a seat held by incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee.[2]

Jackson Lee was in her third term on the Houston City Council in 1994 when she beat incumbent U.S. Representative Craig Washington on the theme that he was out of touch with his district. When Johnson announced his candidacy in 2010, he had just won a third term to a council seat within the 18th Congressional District. The congressional district encompasses much of urban Houston and is about 40% black with the remainder split between whites and Hispanics. It accounts for about a quarter of the city's more than 2 million residents.[3]

Texas House of Representatives

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Johnson ran in the 2016 primary election, advanced to the runoff election, and won a special election called to determine an interim representative for 2016 and won the primary election runoff. Since he was unopposed in November 2016, Johnson winning the special election and runoff meant he was the District 139 state representative who would succeed Sylvester Turner. After 26 years, Turner stepped down from his state seat to become Houston's mayor.

Johnson won the May 7 special election, with 85% of the vote, to finish out the remainder of Turner's term as state representative of District 139. Turner swore him in,[4] allowing Johnson to serve through December and immediately, fully assume former Turner's seniority status and his roles that include vice-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Legislation

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Johnson advocated for education funding reform for Texas' HBCUs, noting disparity between them and other higher education institutions.[5][6]

Johnson was the sole member to speak against HB 2908, a law codifying protections for police and peace officers, strongly opposing the bill on the grounds that it could make questioning an officer an act of resistance and therefore a hate crime.[7]

2024 Texas Senate campaign

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Johnson announced his campaign for the Texas Senate in the 15th district, the seat vacated by incumbent Democrat John Whitmire upon winning the 2023 Houston mayoral election. He placed first in the primary with 36% of the vote, advancing to a May runoff with Molly Cook.[8]

Electoral history

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2005

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Houston City Council District B Election 2005[9]
Candidate Votes % ±
Willie J. Hunter 1,049 7.21%
Tommie Ruth Allen 1,456 10.01%
Anna Gray 426 2.93%
Charles A. Ingram 1,004 6.90%
✓ Felicia Galloway-Hall 5,462 37.54%
✓ Jarvis Johnson 3,830 26.33%
Angle S. Bush 326 2.24%
Robin German-Curtis 995 6.84%
Houston City Council District B Election 2005, Runoff[10]
Candidate Votes % ±
Felicia Galloway-Hall 2,146 39.67%
✓ Jarvis Johnson 3,264 60.33%

2007

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Houston City Council District B Election 2007[11]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Jarvis Johnson 8,254 76.95%
Kenneth Perkins 2,473 23.05%

2009

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Houston City Council District B Election 2009[12]
Candidate Votes % ±
Roger Bowden 2,204 18.01%
✓ Jarvis Johnson 10,033 81.99%

References

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  1. ^ "Fifth Ward residents showing support for Jarvis Johnson after arrest". KHOU-TV. July 1, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Council Member Jarvis Johnson officially announces he is running for Houston's 18th Congressional District seat". 6 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  3. ^ "US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee gets rare challenge". Retrieved 2010-02-15. [dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Honorable Sylvester Turner to Swear in Jarvis Johnson as State Rep. for Texas District 139 – African American News". www.aframnews.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  5. ^ McCardel, Michael (April 23, 2022). "State lawmaker fighting for HBCU funding parity". WFAA. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Britto, Brittany (June 26, 2021). "History shows Texas skimps on Prairie View A&M's land-grant funds". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Mason, Gail (April 2022). "Blue Lives Matter and Hate Crime Law". Race and Justice. 12 (2): 411–430. doi:10.1177/2153368720933665 – via SagePub.
  8. ^ Bugenhagen, Faith (March 5, 2024). "Frontrunners Jarvis Johnson and Molly Cook Are In A Runoff For Former State Senator John Whitmire's Seat". Houston Press. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "City of Houston eGovernment" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  10. ^ "City of Houston eGovernment" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  11. ^ "City of Houston eGovernment" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  12. ^ "City of Houston eGovernment" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-07-16.
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