Gloria Johnson (politician)

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]

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] Later dubbed the "Tennessee Three", the trio interrupted House proceedings with their demonstration as thousands protested outside of the building.^[10] The demonstration violated the chamber's decorum rules, as the three members were not recognized to speak and utilized a bullhorn.^[11]

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.^[12][13] 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.^[14] Jones and Pearson were expelled while Johnson avoided expulsion by the margin of a single vote.^[11][15] The expulsion vote gathered national attention for the three Democratic lawmakers, including praise from Vice President Kamala Harris during a speech at Fisk University following the vote.^[16]

In late July 2023, it was reported Johnson would launch a campaign the following month to challenge Senator Marsha Blackburn in the 2024 election.^[17] In early August, Johnson launched an exploratory committee in preparation for a Senate run.^[18] On September 5, Johnson formally launched her senate campaign.^[19]

In March 2024, Grammy-winning vocalists Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris, Maren Morris, and Allison Russell, along with more than 30 other artists, came together to record and release a new "soul anthem" called Tennessee Rise in support of Johnson's senate campaign.^[20]

Johnson won the Democratic Primary on August 1st, 2024, with 70% of the vote to become the party's nominee. ^[21] She defeated previous Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020, Marquita Bradshaw, along with Civil Miller-Watkins and Lola Denise Brown. ^[22]

Johnson went on to lose the general election to Marsha Blackburn, garnering 34.2% of the vote to Blackburn's 63.8%.^[23]

Johnson lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is Christian.^[1] Johnson is a retired special education teacher of 27 years.^[24] She was a teacher at Central High School in Knoxville when a shooting occurred at the school in 2008.^[25]

• Legislative website at the Tennessee General Assembly
• Gloria Johnson for US Senate campaign website
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN