Hank Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hank Johnson
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Official portrait, c. 2022
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Cynthia McKinney |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Henry Calvin Johnson Jr.
October 2, 1954 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mereda Davis |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Lithonia, Georgia, U.S. |
| Education | Clark Atlanta University (BA) Texas Southern University (JD) |
Henry Calvin Johnson Jr., born on October 2, 1954, is an American lawyer and politician. He has been a U.S. Representative for Georgia's 4th district since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His district covers parts of Atlanta's eastern suburbs, including cities like Decatur and Lithonia. Hank Johnson is also one of only four Buddhists who have served in the United States Congress.
Life and Education
Hank Johnson grew up in Washington, D.C.. His father worked for the Bureau of Prisons and was the highest-ranking African-American in that department at the time.
Johnson went to Clark College, which is now Clark Atlanta University, and earned his bachelor's degree in 1976. He then studied law at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, getting his law degree in 1979. After finishing school, he worked as a lawyer in Decatur, Georgia, for over 25 years.
From 1989 to 2001, Johnson served as a judge in the DeKalb County magistrate's court. This court handles smaller legal cases. Later, he was elected to the DeKalb County Commission in 2000, where he served from 2001 to 2006. The County Commission helps manage local government for the county.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Hank Johnson became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007. This is part of the United States Congress, where lawmakers create and vote on laws for the country.
How Hank Johnson Was Elected
2006 Election
In 2006, Hank Johnson ran against the current representative, Cynthia McKinney, in the Democratic primary election for Georgia's 4th district. This district usually votes for Democrats, so winning the primary was very important. Johnson won the runoff election with 59% of the votes.
He then won the general election in November against the Republican candidate, Catherine Davis, with a large majority of the votes. Johnson used the internet and blogs a lot during his campaign to reach voters and get national attention. This was a new and effective way to campaign at the time.
Later Elections
Hank Johnson has been reelected many times since 2006. He won his elections in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. In some of these elections, he ran without an opponent, showing strong support in his district.
What Hank Johnson Has Done in Congress
Working for His Region
In 2008, other Democratic members of Congress chose Johnson to be a "Regional Whip" for the Eighth Region. This means he helps make sure members from states like Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama vote together on important issues.
Views on the Iraq War
Johnson was critical of the Iraq War. In 2007, he spoke out against the war, saying it was a "grave misstep." He also introduced a bill asking the Secretary of Defense to remove U.S. troops from street patrol duty in Iraq. He believed that Iraqi troops should take over patrolling their own streets. He voted for bills that aimed to set timelines for troops to leave Iraq or to cut funding if certain conditions were not met.
Civil Justice System
Johnson supports laws that help make the U.S. civil justice system stronger. In 2016, he helped introduce a law called the "Restoring Statutory Rights Act." This law aims to protect people's right to go to court and make sure they are not forced into private, secret hearings when they have a legal problem.
Economic Ideas
Johnson voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in 2008. This program was a government plan to help the economy during a financial crisis. However, he voted for the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which was a large government spending plan designed to boost the economy.
In 2007, Johnson's resolution (a type of proposal) about the civil war in Uganda passed both the House and Senate. This showed his interest in peaceful solutions to international conflicts.
Comments on Guam
In 2010, during a meeting about the U.S. military base in Guam, Johnson made a comment that got a lot of attention. He said he was worried that if too many people moved to Guam, the island might "tip over and capsize". He later explained that he was using a funny metaphor to highlight his serious concern about the island becoming too crowded. He wanted to draw attention to the potential negative effects of adding many more Marines and their families to the island.
Effectiveness as a Lawmaker
A study in 2014 found that Hank Johnson was the 18th most effective Democrat in the 112th Congress. This study looked at how well lawmakers were able to get their ideas and bills through the legislative process and turned into laws. He was ranked higher than any other Republican from Georgia in this study.
Impeachment Work
Johnson was part of a special group called the House Judiciary Task Force on Judicial Impeachment. This group investigates judges who might need to be removed from office. He helped lead the investigations and trials for two judges, Thomas Porteous and Samuel B. Kent, who were later removed.
In 2019, Johnson supported the impeachment of President Donald Trump. He was on the House Committee on the Judiciary, which played a big role in the investigation. He voted to approve the articles of impeachment against Trump. He also voted for the second impeachment of Donald Trump in 2021.
Committees and Groups Hank Johnson Belongs To
In Congress, members join different committees and groups to work on specific topics. Hank Johnson is a member of:
- Committee on the Judiciary: This committee deals with laws, courts, and the justice system. He is the main Democrat (Ranking Member) on the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: This committee works on laws about roads, bridges, airports, and other transportation systems.
He is also part of several special groups, called caucuses, including:
- Congressional Progressive Caucus: A group of lawmakers who support progressive policies.
- Congressional Black Caucus: A group of African-American lawmakers.
- Congressional Freethought Caucus: A group that supports reason and science in public policy.
- Medicare for All Caucus: A group that supports universal healthcare.
Personal Life
Hank Johnson is married to Mereda Davis Johnson, who is also a lawyer and a Commissioner for DeKalb County. They have two children.
In 2009, Johnson shared that he had been dealing with Hepatitis C for many years. This health condition affected his liver and sometimes caused him to speak slowly or get lost in thought. He received treatment, and by 2010, he had successfully completed it, which helped improve his health and energy.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- List of Buddhist members of the United States Congress
