Ross Johnson (politician)

Ross Johnson
Minority Leader of the California Senate
In office
March 16, 1998–April 27, 2000
Preceded byRob Hurtt
Succeeded byJim Brulte
Member of the California Senate
from the 35th district
In office
May 11, 1995 – November 30, 2004
Preceded byMarian Bergeson
Succeeded byJohn B. T. Campbell III
Minority Leader of the California Assembly
In office
November 10, 1988 – July 17, 1991
Preceded byPat Nolan
Succeeded byBill Jones
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 72nd district
In office
December 7, 1992 – May 11, 1995
Preceded byTom Umberg
Succeeded byDick Ackerman
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 64th district
In office
December 6, 1982 - November 30, 1992
Preceded byM. David Stirling
Succeeded byTed Weggeland
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 69th district
In office
December 4, 1978 – November 30, 1982
Preceded byWilliam E. Dannemeyer
Succeeded byNolan Frizzelle
Personal details
Born(1939-09-28)September 28, 1939
North Dakota, US
DiedAugust 16, 2017(2017-08-16) (aged 77)
Sacramento, California, US
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDiane Morris (m. 1968)
Children2
EducationCalifornia State University, Fullerton
Western State College of Law
Military service
Branch/service United States Navy

James Ross Johnson (September 28, 1939 – August 16, 2017) was an American politician and lawyer. He was the first person in the California Legislature to become his party's leader in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

From Irvine, California, Johnson went to California State University, Fullerton and Western State College of Law. He practiced law. Johnson served in the California State Assembly from 1978 to 1995 and then served in the California State Senate from 1995 to 2004. Johnson was involved with the Republican Party. From 2007 to 2010, Johnson served as the chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.[1][2]

On August 16, 2017, Johnson died of cancer in Sacramento, California at the age of 77.[3]

  1. ^ JoinCalifornia.com.-Ross Johnson
  2. ^ Votesmart.org.-Ross Johnson
  3. ^ 'Ross Johnson, former GOP leader, campaign finance reformer, dies at 77,' The Sacramento Bee, Dan Smith, August 16, 2017