Gordon M. Johnson

American politician
other uses of the name Gordon Johnson

Gordon M. Johnson (born December 16, 1949) is an American Democratic Party politician who has represented the 37th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since 2022, having represented the same district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2002 to 2022. He has served in the Senate since 2022 as Assistant Majority Leader.

Johnson grew up in Englewood, New Jersey, where he still resides. His mother was a nurse and his father was a United States Customs Agent. He attended St. Cecilia High School, received a B. S. from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Social Science and Criminal Justice, and an M. A. from Seton Hall University in Administration and Supervision. Johnson served as an undersheriff in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, a position he has filled from 1999 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2005. In the days following September 11, 2001, Sheriff Johnson served as commander of the George Washington Bridge as part Bergen County's response to the terrorist attacks. According to the Record, Sheriff Johnson "has widely been credited with helping to ease the rancor and divisiveness within the department." He served for 24 years with the Englewood Police Department, attaining the rank of patrol sergeant. He is also experienced in labor relations and served as president of the State P. B. A. Supervisory Officers Association Local #216. On June 6, 2006, Johnson won the Democratic Party primary for the Engelwood City Council at large by unseating incumbent Rev. Vernon Walton; Victory in the primary is tantamount to winning the seat in this Democratic Party stronghold. On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Johnson won the at large seat, defeating Republican Harry Kanner. Johnson received 5,132 votes, with Kanner receiving 1,501 votes. In August 2008, Johnson announced that he will be stepping down from his Englewood City Council seat by March 2008. While Johnson was grandfathered in from legislation banning dual office holding, he would step down to "follow the will of the people".