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Robert Johnson (Louisiana politician)

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Robert Johnson
Minority Leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives
In office
March 19, 2018 – January 13, 2020
Preceded byGene Reynolds
Succeeded bySam Jenkins
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 28th district
In office
January 2008 – January 13, 2020
Preceded byCharles Riddle
Succeeded byDaryl Deshotel
Personal details
Born
Robert Allen Johnson

January 1975 (age 49)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationLoyola University, New Orleans (BA, JD)

Robert Allen Johnson (born January 1975) is a former Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 28 in Avoyelles Parish in south central Louisiana. He resides in Marksville. While in the House, Johnson was the House Minority Leader, opposite Majority Leader Lance Harris of Alexandria.

Education

[edit]

Johnson attended Loyola University New Orleans, from which he earned a Bachelor of Arts in politics in 1997 and a Juris Doctor in 2000 from the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.[1]

Political career

[edit]

Johnson has previously worked as a prosecutor.[2]

In the nonpartisan blanket primary held on October 20, 2007, to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Charles Riddle, III, Johnson led by forty-seven votes his Republican opponent, Kirby "Coach" Roy, III (born 1954), a native of Alexandria who relocated to Hessmer in Avoyelles Parish. The presence of two other Democratic candidates compelled a second round of balloting, called the Louisiana general election.[3] In that balloting, Johnson defeated Roy, 7,436 (52.8 percent) to 6,642 (47.2 percent).[4] Roy challenged Johnson for a second time in the primary election held on October 22, 2011, but he fell far short of victory. Johnson received 8,037 votes (62.8 percent) to Roy's 4,768 (37.2 percent).[5]

Johnson serves on the Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Committee, the Insurance Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay, and the Atchafalaya Basin Program Oversight Committee. He is a member of the Louisiana Rural Caucus.[1]

Johnson was an unsuccessful candidate in Louisiana's 5th congressional district special election held on October 19, 2013. Among fourteen candidates, he finished fifth with 9,971 votes (10 percent). He won a majority in his own Avoyelles Parish and finished with a plurality as well in East Feliciana, one of the Florida Parishes. Johnson finished just behind Clyde C. Holloway, the fourth-place candidate and a Republican member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission from Johnson's neighboring Rapides Parish. Holloway polled 11,250 votes (11 percent).[6] The two top vote getters, both Republicans from northeastern Louisiana, State Senator Neil Riser of Columbia in Caldwell Parish and political newcomer, Vance McAllister, a businessman from the Monroe area, meet in the November 16 runoff election to choose a new representative to succeed Republican Rodney Alexander, who resigned in September to join the administration of Governor Bobby Jindal. While Riser has the support of three sitting U.S. representatives from Louisiana, McAllister shot to a runoff berth with the celebrity endorsement of Phil Robertson of the A&E Network's Duck Dynasty television series.[7]

Johnson was considered a potential Democratic candidate in 2016 for the United States Senate seat vacated by Republican David Vitter but never filed for the position.[8]

Johnson ran for the State Senate's 28th district in 2019, but was defeated by Republican Heather Cloud.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Robert Johnson". Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Marksville Rep. expected to announce 5th District candidacy". KNOE.com. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Results for Election Date: 10/20/2007". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  4. ^ "Results for Election Date: 11/17/2007". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  5. ^ "Results for Election Date: 10/22/2011". staticresults.sos.la.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "U. S. Representative -- 5th Congressional District". lasos.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "Join Me for a Family Fun Day with Duck Commander Phil Robertson". vancemcallisterforcongress.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
  8. ^ Richard P. Sharkey (January 6, 2016). "UPDATE: Mayor Jacques Roy may run for U.S. Senate seat". The Alexandria Town Talk. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  9. ^ "Final Avoyelles Parish election results". Avoyelles Today. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
Louisiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 10th district

2012–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives
2018–2020
Succeeded by