Gloria Johnson (politician)

Gloria Johnson (born May 25, 1962)^[1] is an American politician and Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives currently representing District 90, and formerly District 13, based in Knoxville.^[2] In April 2023, she and two other state representatives faced expulsion votes from the Tennessee General Assembly after taking to the floor of the State House unrecognized to protest gun violence. Johnson was the only one of the three legislators not to be expelled. Johnson is currently seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the 2024 United States Senate election in Tennessee currently held by incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn.

Gloria Johnson
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2019
Preceded by	Eddie Smith
Constituency	13th district (2019–2023) 90th district (2023–present)
In office January 8, 2013 – January 13, 2015
Preceded by	Harry J. Tindell
Succeeded by	Eddie Smith
Constituency	13th district
Personal details
Born	(1962-05-25) May 25, 1962 (age 61) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	University of Tennessee (BA)
Website	Campaign website

Tennessee House of Representatives

In 2012, Johnson was elected to represent District 13 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. She lost re-election to Eddie Smith in 2014. Following a failed attempt in 2016, Johnson defeated Smith in 2018.^[3] She was re-elected in 2020.^[4] Following redistricting, Johnson's residence became located in District 15, which already had a Democratic incumbent. Because of this, Johnson moved to District 90 and won the seat in 2022.^[5]

In January 2021, Johnson was assigned a small, windowless conference room for use as her office in the Cordell Hull State Office Building. Johnson disagreed with the room she was given, and alleged her assignment to it was retribution from State House Speaker Cameron Sexton after she was the only representative to abstain from voting for Sexton in the speakership election. Johnson instead moved her desk to the hallway outside and gave the room to her assistant, who was originally given a non-connecting closet for her office.^[6] In 2022, following a year-long campaign, she was assigned a new office space, subsequent to an ADA compliance complaint.^[7]

Following reportage of Rutherford County, Tennessee juvenile arrest and incarceration scandal, in January 2022, with Senator Heidi Campbell, she filed a joint resolution to remove juvenile court Judge Donna Scott Davenport from the bench.^[8]

Expulsion vote

Main article: 2023 Tennessee House of Representatives expulsions

 

President Joe Biden with Gloria Johnson at the White House in April 2023

During a legislative session three days after the 2023 Covenant School shooting, Johnson and fellow Democratic representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson led a gun control protest on the House floor.^[9] The demonstration violated the chamber's decorum rules, as the three members were not recognized to speak and utilized a bullhorn.^[10]

Subsequently, House leadership stripped Johnson and Jones of their committee assignments (Pearson did not serve on any committees), and resolutions to expel the three were drawn up.^[11][12] During her interview with Mother Jones a day before her expulsion vote, Johnson accused House Republicans of fascism and said she believed Tennessee was less democratic than North Korea.^[13] Jones and Pearson were expelled while Johnson avoided expulsion by the margin of a single vote.^[10][14]

U.S. Senate campaign

In late July 2023, it was reported Johnson would launch a campaign the following month to challenge Senator Marsha Blackburn in the 2024 election.^[15] In early August, Johnson launched an exploratory committee in preparation for a Senate run.^[16] On September 5, Johnson formally launched her senate campaign.^[17]

Electoral history

2011 – 2020

Tennessee's 6th senate district special election results, 2011^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Becky Duncan Massey	10,006	63.56
	Democratic	Gloria S. Johnson	5,737	36.44
Total votes			15,743	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district Democratic primary, 2012^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson	778	100.0
Total votes			778	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district election results, 2012^[20]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson	10,018	48.09
	Republican	Gary Loe	9,730	46.71
	Independent	Nick H. Cazana	1,084	5.20
Total votes			20,832	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district Democratic primary, 2014^[21]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson (incumbent)	1,798	100.0
Total votes			1,798	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district election results, 2014^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eddie Smith	6,730	50.69
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson (incumbent)	6,548	49.31
Total votes			13,278	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district Democratic primary, 2016^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson	1,639	100.0
Total votes			1,639	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district election results, 2016^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eddie Smith (incumbent)	11,162	50.34
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson	11,011	49.66
Total votes			22,173	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district Democratic primary, 2018^[25]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson	4,243	100.0
Total votes			4,243	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district election results, 2018^[26]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson	11,495	54.92
	Republican	Eddie Smith (incumbent)	9,041	43.20
	Independent	Zachary Houk	394	1.88
Total votes			20,930	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district Democratic primary, 2020^[27]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson (incumbent)	5,031	100.0
Total votes			5,031	100.0

Tennessee's 13th representative district election results, 2020^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson (incumbent)	14,242	52.93
	Republican	Elaine Davis	12,664	47.07
Total votes			26,906	100.0

2022 – present

Tennessee's 90th representative district Democratic primary, 2022^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson (incumbent)	3,690	100.0
Total votes			3,690	100.0

Tennessee's 90th representative district election results, 2022^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gloria Johnson (incumbent)	8,473	57.90
	Republican	David "Pozy" Poczobut	6,162	42.10
Total votes			14,635	100.0

References

1. "Gloria Johnson's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
2. "Representative Gloria Johnson". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
3. McDermott, Brenna (November 7, 2018). "TN Election: Johnson beats Smith in State House District 13 seat". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
4. "2020 Tennessee State House - District 13 Election Results". Detroit Free Press. December 3, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
5. Jones, Vivian; Burgess, Katherine; Gibson, Robin (April 7, 2023). "Tennessee three: What to know about the House Democrats targeted for expulsion by Republicans". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
6. Dorman, Travis (January 29, 2023). "Here's why Knoxville Rep. Gloria Johnson moved her desk to the hallway". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
7. "Radar Tennessee lawmaker now in full-sized office after year-long fight" Jackie DelPilar, FOX17, January 11th 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
8. "Lawmakers issue resolution to remove Judge Donna Scott Davenport" Levi Ismail, News Channel 15, January 17, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
9. Allen, Jonathan; Brooks, Brad (March 31, 2023). "Protesters demand action on guns at Tennessee statehouse". Reuters. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
10. Andone, Dakin; Young, Ryan; Simonson, Amy; Almasy, Steve (April 6, 2023). "Tennessee House of Representatives debating whether to expel 3 Democratic lawmakers". CNN. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
11. Whetstone, Tyler (April 3, 2023). "Republicans strip Rep. Gloria Johnson of committee assignments for her role in peaceful gun reform demonstration". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
12. "Tennessee GOP members move to oust 3 Democrats from House after gun protest". CBS News. Paramount Global. Associated Press. April 3, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
13. Hayes, Garrison (April 5, 2023). "Exclusive: Defiant Tennessee Dem. Decries "March to Fascism" Ahead of Her Possible Expulsion". Mother Jones. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
14. Jones, Vivian (April 6, 2023). "Resolution to expel Rep. Johnson fails by one vote". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
15. Mutnick, Ally (July 21, 2023). "Member of 'Tennessee Three' set to challenge Marsha Blackburn for her Senate seat". Politico. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
16. Kruesi, Kimberlee; Mattise, Jonathan (August 8, 2023). "Member of 'Tennessee Three' makes move toward 2024 Senate bid". AP News. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
17. Kruesi, Kimberlee; Mattise, Jonathan (September 5, 2023). "Rep. Gloria Johnson of 'Tennessee Three' officially launches 2024 Senate campaign". ABC News. The Associated Press. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
18. "State of Tennessee November 8, 2011 General Election" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. February 21, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
19. "State of Tennessee August 2, 2012 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. August 29, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
20. "State of Tennessee November 6, 2012 General Election" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. December 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
21. "State of Tennessee August 7, 2014 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. September 2, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
22. "State of Tennessee November 4, 2014 State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. December 3, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
23. "State of Tennessee August 4, 2016 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. September 1, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
24. "State of Tennessee November 8, 2016 State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. December 13, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
25. "August 2, 2018 State of Tennessee - Totals Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. August 30, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
26. "November 6, 2018 State of Tennessee - Totals State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
27. "State of Tennessee August 6, 2020 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
28. "November 3, 2020 State of Tennessee State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. December 2, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
29. "State of Tennessee August 4, 2022 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. September 1, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
30. "November 8, 2022 State of Tennessee - Totals State General" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. December 13, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2023.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gloria Johnson (politician).

• Official page at the Tennessee General Assembly
• Campaign site
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Gloria Johnson at Ballotpedia
• Gloria Johnson at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
• Appearances on C-SPAN