Henry Johnson

Henry "Hank" Johnson Jr. is the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 4th Congressional District, a position he has held since 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to Congress in 2006 after defeating incumbent Cynthia McKinney in a primary runoff. Born in Washington, D.C., Johnson is notable for being one of the first two Buddhists ever elected to the United States Congress. He represents a district that includes parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Rockdale counties. Johnson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in 1976 and his Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1979. Before entering federal politics, he maintained a legal practice in Decatur, Georgia, for over 25 years, focusing on criminal defense and civil rights. His public service career prior to Congress includes 12 years as a Magistrate Court Judge in DeKalb County and five years as a DeKalb County Commissioner, where he chaired the budget committee. In the House of Representatives, Johnson is a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee. He has established himself as a prominent advocate for judicial reform, serving as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on legislation related to consumer protections, civil liberties, and government accountability, including efforts to increase transparency and ethical standards within the federal judiciary.

Representative Johnson maintains a progressive policy platform focused on social justice, economic equity, and judicial reform. He is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and advocates for expanding Medicaid and establishing a public health insurance option to achieve universal healthcare. On economic issues, he supports increasing the federal minimum wage through the Raise the Wage Act, investing in infrastructure to create local jobs, and providing tax relief for middle-class families. He is an advocate for the Arbitration Fairness Act, which seeks to protect consumers by limiting forced arbitration in legal disputes. In the realm of civil rights and immigration, Johnson supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, protections for DACA and TPS recipients, and comprehensive immigration reform that balances border security with humanitarian standards. He is a vocal proponent of environmental protection, advocating for policies to combat climate change and transition the United States toward clean energy independence. Additionally, he supports gun control measures such as universal background checks and has been a leading voice in Congress calling for enforceable ethics codes and term limits for Supreme Court Justices.