Cavalier Johnson
45th Mayor of Milwaukee
Assumed office
December 22, 2021
Acting: December 22, 2021 – April 13, 2022
Preceded byTom Barrett
President of the Milwaukee Common Council
In office
April 21, 2020 – April 13, 2022
Preceded byAshanti Hamilton
Succeeded byJosé G. Pérez
Member of the Milwaukee Common Council from the 2nd district
In office
April 19, 2016 – April 13, 2022
Preceded byJoe Davis, Sr.
Succeeded byMark Chambers, Jr.
Personal details
Born (1986-11-05) November 5, 1986
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison (BA)

Cavalier Johnson (born November 5, 1986)[1] is an American politician and mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He recently served as Milwaukee Common Council president as well as Milwaukee's 2nd District alderman. In April 2022, Johnson won a special election, becoming the first African American to be elected mayor of Milwaukee.[2] He is the city’s second African-American mayor, following Marvin Pratt.[3]

Early life and education

Johnson's father worked as a custodian for more than 30 years, and his mother worked as a certified nursing assistant. He is one of 10 siblings. He grew up in Milwaukee's 53206 ZIP code, known for having the highest incarceration rate for African-American males out of any ZIP code in the country.[4]

At 14 years old, he was selected by the YMCA to participate in a pre-college program, Sponsor-A-Scholar, for low-income students in Milwaukee Public Schools. Johnson credits this for his commitment to community service.[5]

In 2005, Johnson graduated from Bay View High School.[6] As a junior, he was a cameraman for the Youth in Government press corps.[7] He continued his education after high school, attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 2009.[5]

Johnson has served on boards at the Milwaukee YMCA, ACLU of Wisconsin, and Milwaukee Community Brainstorming.[5]

Career

Johnson announcing Milwaukee as the host of the 2024 Republican National Convention

After college, Johnson worked with the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board assisting at-risk youth, youth entering the workforce for the first time, and adults retooling to enter the workforce.[5] Johnson worked as a community outreach liaison for the government of Milwaukee, where he interacted with community and faith leaders.[5]

Johnson ran for a seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in a five-way special election in 2011. He finished fifth, with 171 votes.[8] In 2012, Johnson ran for a different seat on the County Board, finishing sixth out of seven candidates, with 106 votes.[8]

In 2016, Johnson ran for 2nd District Alderman on the Milwaukee Common Council, winning a five-way primary with 38 percent of the vote and winning the general election with 4,307 votes (52 percent).[8] In 2018, Johnson was the lead sponsor to ban fee-based conversion therapy of minors in Milwaukee.[9]

Johnson was re-elected without opposition in 2020,[8] and he was also elected by his peers, in an 8–7 vote, to serve as the Milwaukee Common Council President.[4][10]

Johnson became acting mayor of Milwaukee upon the resignation of Tom Barrett—who was set to become Ambassador to Luxembourg—on December 22, 2021.[11] He served as acting mayor until the 2022 Milwaukee mayoral special election,[12] a race in which Johnson was a candidate.[13] The day before assuming the role, Johnson announced that his top priority would be combating reckless driving to create safe streets.[14][6] On April 5, 2022, Johnson won the special election, becoming the first elected African-American mayor of Milwaukee.[2] While Johnson is the first elected black mayor of Milwaukee, he is the city's second black mayor, after Marvin Pratt, who served as acting mayor in 2004.[15][3]

Personal life

Johnson lives in Milwaukee's Capitol Heights neighborhood. He is married and has three children.[8]

Electoral history

Milwaukee Mayoral Special Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nonpartisan Special Primary, February 15, 2022[16]
Nonpartisan Cavalier Johnson (incumbent) 25,779 41.79%
Nonpartisan Bob Donovan 13,742 22.28%
Nonpartisan Lena Taylor 7,877 12.77% -17.92%
Nonpartisan Marina Dimitrijevic 7,521 12.19%
Nonpartisan Earnell Lucas 5,886 9.53%
Nonpartisan Michael Sampson 514 0.83%
Nonpartisan Ieshuh Griffin 315 0.51%
Write-in 56 0.09% -0.68%
Total votes 61,743 100.00% -6.94%
Special Election, April 5, 2022[16][17][18]
Nonpartisan Cavalier Johnson (incumbent) 62,143 71.51%
Nonpartisan Bob Donovan 24,543 28.24%
Write-in 215 0.25% -0.68%
Plurality 37,600 43.27% +17.24%
Total votes 86,901 100.00% -5.45%

References

  1. ↑ Rife, Adam (April 5, 2022). "Cavalier Johnson Elected 45th Mayor of Milwaukee". CBS 58. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Dirr, Alison (April 5, 2022). "Cavalier Johnson becomes first African American elected mayor of Milwaukee, defeats Bob Donovan in the spring general election". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Cavalier Johnson makes history as first elected Black mayor". WISN. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Torres, Alison Dirr and Ricardo. "A sharply divided Milwaukee Common Council votes Cavalier Johnson as president". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Meet the Alders". Milwaukee Magazine. April 21, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Jannene, Jeramey (December 22, 2021). "The Incredible Rise of Cavalier Johnson". Urban Milwaukee. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ Kampmeier, Susan (December 8, 2003). "Students get inside look at politics". Stevens Point Journal. p. 3. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Jannene, Jeramey. "City Hall: The Rise of Cavalier Johnson". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  9. ↑ Spicuzza, Mary (March 27, 2018). "Therapy to change a child's sexual orientation will be banned in Milwaukee". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Cavalier Johnson: A day in photos during the pandemic with the Common Council President".
  11. ↑ Atkins, Tony (December 22, 2021). "Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett resigns, hands power to Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson". TMJ4. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  12. ↑ Dirr, Alison (December 22, 2021). "With Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's resignation Wednesday, Cavalier Johnson becomes acting mayor". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ Dirr, Alison. "Milwaukee mayoral candidate and Common Council President Cavalier Johnson sees better relationship with state ahead". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ Bachara, Gabriella (December 21, 2021). "Cavalier Johnson unveils plan to curb reckless driving in Milwaukee before taking on role of interim mayor". CBS58. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ Schumacher, Yuriko; Dirr, Alison (April 6, 2022). "Milwaukee was decades behind similar cities in electing a Black mayor". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Latest Election Results". city.milwaukee.gov. City of Milwaukee. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Overview and Live Results: California Congressional District 22, Other Special Elections". Decision Desk HQ. 270toWin. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  18. ↑ Summary Report - Spring Election - April 5, 2022 (Report). Milwaukee County. April 5, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
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