Lon Johnson

Lon Barton Johnson
Lon Johnson
Michigan Democratic Party Chair
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 23, 2013
Opponent(s) Mark Brewer (D) - 2013
Preceded by Mark Brewer
Candidate for Michigan House of Representatives (2012)
Personal details
Born Rockwood, Michigan
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Julianna Smoot [1]
Residence Kalkaska, Michigan [2]

Lon Johnson is the current Chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party[3][4] after defeating the previous chair, Mark Brewer, in 2013.[1][5] He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2012 election for the 103rd district in the Michigan House of Representatives.[6]

Personal life

Johnson was born in Rockwood, Michigan, his father is a retiree from Trenton Engine and his grandfather was a steelworker. He graduated from Arizona State University. He is a son of Vivian L. Pluff of Onsted, Michigan, and Gary S. Johnson of Richland, Pennsylvania.[7]

On October 22, 2011, Johnson married Julianna Smoot,[7] a top fund political raiser for Democrats. She was a Deputy Manager of Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign,[8] having previously served as White House Social Secretary, Deputy Assistant to the President.[9] and Chief of Staff to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. His wife's employment in the Obama reelection effort was a campaign issue.[10]

Professional

Johnson has worked for the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,[11] and Congressman John Dingell's 2002 campaign.[1][11] Johnson also worked for a non-profit called the National Democratic Institute. During his time there he traveled to Iraq to help with the installation of a political system based on democratic governance.[12] He was formerly vice president of a private equity firm in Tennessee, TVV Capital,[13] a private fund in Nashville that invests in small and midsize manufacturers and other companies, chiefly in the Southeast.[7]

2012 election

Johnson made an unsuccessful bid in the 2012 elections to unseat incumbent Republican Representative Bruce Rendon in the 103rd district of the Michigan House of Representatives.[2][6]

During the election, his opponent made the employment of his wife, Julianna Smoot, in the Obama reelection effort a campaign issue.[10]

His endorsements included the Mackinac Sierra Club Chapter, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, and PrideSource. Johnson was given an 83% rating from National Rifle Association's assessment of candidate positions on gun rights.[14]

Johnson's campaign raised a total of $347,637 during the 2012 election cycle.[15]

2012 election results

Results of 2012 election for 103rd district in the Michigan House of Representatives[6]
Name Votes Vote %
Bruce Rendon (incumbent) 23,259 53%
Lon Johnson 20,749 47%

2013 election

On February 5, 2013, Johnson announced his intentions to become Michigan Democratic Party Chairperson.[13][16] The two-year position will be voted on during the Michigan Democratic Party Convention at Cobo Hall in Detroit on February 23, 2013.[17] Johnson's main opponent is Mark Brewer. Brewer is the longest-serving Democratic Party chairperson in the US, having first been elected to the position in 1995.[5][13][18]

All seven Democrats in Michigan’s congressional delegation signed a letter sent to party members on February 5, 2013 which announced their collective endorsement of Lon Johnson for the chair of the state party.[13][16][17] He also has the support of the United Auto Workers,[5][17] while his opponent, Mark Brewer, has the support of the Michigan Education Association.[5][19]

If elected, Johnson said he intends to hire an executive director to oversee day-to-day operations of the state headquarters while he focuses on campaign and outreach efforts.[19]

On the day of the election, 23 February 2013, Mark Brewer withdrew from the race. Brewer announced his decision to thousands of delegates to withdraw rather than continue a floor election. Johnson was elected chairperson shortly after Brewer's announcement.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Clark, Zoe; Pluta, Rick (February 3, 2013). "Electoral College reform, 2014 Gov race, and Democratic infighting (Oh my!)". Michigan Radio. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Oosting, Jonathan (February 1, 2013). "Michigan Democratic leader Mark Brewer denies convict's accusation of concocting fake Tea Party scheme; Republican leader calls for resignation". MLive. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gautz, Chris (February 23, 2013). "Longtime chair Mark Brewer is out; state Dems elect Lon Johnson". Crain's Detroit Business. Associated Press. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gray, Kathleen (February 23, 2013). "Mark Brewer exits race for party chair after tense day at Michigan Democratic convention". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Eggert, David (February 5, 2013). "Key Democrats back challenger to party chairman". WWJ-TV. Associated Press. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Michigan House of Representatives results". Detroit News. Associated Press. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Julianna Smoot and Lon Johnson". New York Times. October 23, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Factbox: Key players in Obama's re-election campaign". Reuters. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  9. ↑ "Obama taps Washington insider as social secretary". Blnz.com. Retrieved 2012-04-13.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Clark, Zoe; Rick Pluta (August 31, 2012). "It's Just Politics". Michigan Radio. Retrieved 2013-01-02. Representative Rendon sent out a fundraising letter that calls attention to the fact that Johnson’s wife … "mis one of the people running President Obama’s reelection campaign, and a superstar of Democratic politics. ...Johnson released a letter that calls on his Republican opponent to lay off his wife.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "About Lon". Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ Phillips, Chad (April 23, 2012). "103rd Democratic Candidate Lon Johnson is Northern Michigan’s Prince Fielder". Michigan Populist Blog. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Gautz, Chris (February 5, 2013). "Key Democrats back challenger to state party Chairman Mark Brewer". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Lon Johnson's Special Interest Group Ratings". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Johnson, Lon". Follow The Money. National Institute on Money in State Politics. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Gray, Kathleen (February 5, 2013). "Congressional Democrats throw support behind Johnson for state party chair". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Oosting, Jonathan (February 5, 2013). "Michigan Congressional Democrats back Lon Johnson to replace Mark Brewer as party leader". MLive. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Lessenberry: 'Mark Brewer Is In Trouble' In Bid To Stay State Democratic Chairman". Deadline Detroit. January 28, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Livengood, Chad; Shepardson, David (February 5, 2013). "Mich. leaders seek ouster of 18-year Democrat chairman Mark Brewer". Detroit News. Archived from the original on 2013-04-08. Retrieved February 5, 2013.