La Tonya Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
LaTonya Johnson
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Johnson in 2020
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| Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 6th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Nikiya Harris Dodd |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 17th district |
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| In office January 1, 2013 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Toles |
| Succeeded by | David Crowley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 22, 1972 Somerville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Tennessee State University (BS) |
| Occupation | Politician, union president, business owner |
| Website | Official website: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/06/johnson |
LaTonya Johnson, born on June 22, 1972, is an American politician and activist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 6th Senate district since 2017. Before joining the Senate, she served two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly. She also led a local union called AFSCME Local 502.
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Early Life and Career
LaTonya Johnson was born on June 22, 1972, in Somerville, Tennessee. She graduated from Bay View High School in 1990. After high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee from 1990 to 1992.
In 1997, she went to Tennessee State University. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in criminal justice. She has lived in Milwaukee for over 30 years.
Before becoming a politician, Johnson owned and ran Anointed Child Care Service. This was an in-home daycare service. She also served as the president of Local 502 of AFSCME. This union represents in-home daycare providers in Milwaukee County.
Political Career
Serving in the Assembly
LaTonya Johnson began her political career in the Wisconsin State Assembly. When Barbara Toles left her seat in Assembly District 17, Johnson was one of four candidates. She ran for the Democratic nomination in this district. She won easily with 43% of the votes.
In the general election, she ran against Anthony Edwards. She defeated him by a large number of votes. She served two terms in the Assembly.
Becoming a State Senator
In November 2016, Johnson was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate. She won the Democratic primary election in August. She defeated two opponents, Thomas Harris and Michael Bonds. In the general election, she ran unopposed, meaning no one ran against her.
In 2020, Johnson faced a challenge from Michelle Bryant in the primary election. They had similar ideas, but they disagreed on mandatory minimum sentencing. Johnson had supported laws for mandatory minimums for violent offenders with firearms. Bryant opposed these laws. Johnson won the primary election by a large margin. She was re-elected in the general election, defeating Republican Alciro Deacon.
In 2024, Johnson was re-elected again. She ran unopposed in that election.
Important Laws and Initiatives
In 2021, Senator Johnson worked with State Representative Shelia Stubbs. They introduced the "Birth Equity Act." This act included six new laws. These laws aimed to help pregnant women and new mothers. They would provide home wellness visits after birth. They would also make pregnancy a qualifying event for health plans. The act would remove sales tax on breastfeeding supplies. It would also expand dental care for pregnant women who receive BadgerCare.
Johnson also played a key role in creating the PRINCE Act. This law helps find missing children. In April 2022, a 10-year-old girl named Lily Peters went missing. Her body was later found. Her case did not meet the rules for an Amber Alert. This led to calls for changes to the alert system.
In October 2023, a 5-year-old boy named Prince McCree went missing in Milwaukee. An Amber Alert was not issued because there was no information about a suspect. Prince was found dead the next day. These sad events highlighted the need for a better alert system.
Senator Johnson worked with State Senator Jesse James to create the Protection and Recovery Involving Non-located Children Endangered (PRINCE) Act. This act is named after Prince McCree. It changes the rules for missing children alerts. It includes children under 10. It also includes children under 18 with physical or mental disabilities. This helps ensure that more missing children get immediate attention. The PRINCE Act passed both the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly in February 2024.
After the bill passed, Senator Johnson said she was grateful for the support. She said the bill fulfills her promise to the families of Prince McCree and Lily Peters. She also promised to help families of missing children across the state.
Speaking Out for Her Community
During a debate about the state budget, Senator Johnson spoke passionately. She talked about crime in Milwaukee. She believed that some policies contributed to the problem. She also spoke about the impact of gun violence. She shared that she had attended many funerals due to gun violence.
She expressed strong feelings about the differences between city and suburban communities. She later apologized for some of the words she used during her speech. She said she stood by the main message of her speech. She also said she could have chosen different words.
Personal Life
LaTonya Johnson has one daughter named Sydney.
