Chris Johnson | |
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Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 45th district | |
Assumed office January 7, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Billy Hudson |
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 87th district | |
In office January 5, 2016 – January 7, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Johnny Stringer |
Succeeded by | William Andrews III |
Personal details | |
Born | Chris Johnson 1978 |
Political party | Republican |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater |
Pearl River Community College University of Southern Mississippi |
Occupation | Business owner |
Chris Johnson (born 1978) is an American politician serving in the Mississippi State Senate from the 45th district since 2020. [1] He served in the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 87th district from 2016 to 2020. [2]
Johnson attended Forrest County Agricultural High School located in the outskirts of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. [1] He attended Pearl River Community College and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2001. [2] [3]
Johnson is an owner of multiple businesses, including a financial services firm operating in four states. [4]
In 2015, he ran as a Republican for election to the Mississippi House of Representatives for the 87th district, which covers Forrest and Lamar counties, to fill the seat of retiring Democrat Johnny Stringer. [5] He got 49.2% of the vote in the Republican primary and 80.2% of the vote in the general election; he assumed office on January 5, 2016. [5] In the house, he was vice-chairman for the Public Health and Human Services committee and was a member on the following others: Agriculture; Corrections; Education; Banking and Financial Services; Transportation; and Performance Based Budgeting. [2]
In 2019, incumbent, and friend of Johnson, Billy Hudson of the 45th district announced his retirement from the Mississippi State Senate, prompting Johnson to run for election to the seat within one day. [3] [6] He responded to claims of dismay from Republican leadership in the House as "rumors." [7] He ran uncontested in the Republican primary and general election, securing 100% of the vote in both; he assumed office on January 7, 2020. [8] In the Senate, he chairs the Constitution committee and is vice-chair for the Medicaid committee. [1] He is a member on the following others: Appropriations; Business and Financial Institutions; Drug Policy; Education; Insurance; Public, Health, and Welfare; and Tourism. [1]
Johnson is married to Wendi Burton and has two children. [1]