Nathan M. Johnson

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Nathan Johnson
Nathan M. Johnson (Texas Senate) at Massachusetts State House on Aug. 5, 2025, amid Texas walkout over redistricting.jpg
Johnson in 2025
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 16th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Website

Nathan Matthew Johnson (born February 12, 1968) is an American politician, lawyer, and composer serving as a member of the Texas Senate for the 16th district. In the November 6, 2018, election, Johnson defeated incumbent Republican Don Huffines [1] to become the first Democrat to represent the district in over three decades.

Contents

Early life and education

Johnson is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. He received a B.S. in physics from the University of Arizona in 1990 and a J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1993. [2] In college, he volunteered for victims of domestic violence. [3]

Johnson practices business law and bankruptcy law. [2] He co-founded a law firm specializing with business disputes, while working pro-bono for Human Rights Initiative of North Texas. [4]

In 2019, Johnson joined Thompson & Night LLP (which later merged under Holland & Knight) as counsel for the Dallas trial practice group. [2] In July 2023, Johnson joined Thompson Coburn, [5] where he practices commercial litigation in Dallas. [6]

Johnson owned a music production company, where he composed music for the Funimation produced English dub of Dragon Ball Z . [4] [3]

Texas Senate

Johnson speaking at the Massachusetts State House on August 5, 2025, during the 2025 Texas walkout, accompanied by other Texas legislators, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, and Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin. Nathan M. Johnson (Texas Senate) speaks at Massachusetts State House on Aug. 5, 2025, amid Texas walkout over redistricting.jpg
Johnson speaking at the Massachusetts State House on August 5, 2025, during the 2025 Texas walkout, accompanied by other Texas legislators, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, and Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin.

In 2018, Johnson ran for Texas State Senate in District 16. The district had been shifting to align with the Democrats and in an upset Johnson defeated incumbent incumbent Republican Don Huffines by eight percent. [7]

During the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Paxton's attorneys made a motion to disqualify Johnson and two other senators from serving as jurors in the case, claiming they had shown bias and could not be impartial. [8] Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick dismissed this motion. [9]

In 2024, Johnson faced a primary challenge from State Representative Victoria Neave Criado who accused him of being too moderate and not in step with the Democratic Party, specifically when it came to immigration policy. [10] Johnson won the primary with just under 60% of the votes. [11]

Political positions

Johnson has frequently pushed for legislation related to expanding access to medical care in the state. This includes authoring legislation to expand the definition of palliative care [12] , decriminalize the use of fentanyl testing strips [13] , and expand Medicaid. [14]

The Texas Tribune notes that Johnson's centrist voting record is nearly indistinguishable from most of the other Democrats in the Texas Senate according to political scientists and he has generally avoided partisan attacks from the left. [15]

Committee assignments

Source: [16]

2026 Attorney General bid

On July 15, 2025, Johnson announced his bid for the 2026 Texas Attorney General election, seeking to replace four-term Ken Paxton who is running for United States Senate. [6] In the primary, he faces Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston and candidate for Attorney General in 2022. [17]

Electoral history

2018

2018 Texas elections: Senate District 16 [18]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nathan Johnson 159,228 54.13%
Republican Don Huffines (incumbent)134,93345.87%
Democratic gain from Republican
Democratic Primary: Senate District 16 [19]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nathan Johnson 25,437 69.57%
Democratic Joe Bogen11,12530.43%

2022

2022 Texas elections: Senate District 16 [20]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nathan Johnson (incumbent) 118,663 61.95%
Republican Brandon Copeland72,88538.05%
Democratic hold
Democratic Primary: Senate District 16 [21]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nathan Johnson 31,323 100%

2024

2024 Texas Senate District 16 Democratic primary
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nathan M. Johnson (incumbent) 19,629 59.15%
Democratic Victoria Neave 13,55440.85%
Total votes33,183 100.00%

References

  1. ↑ Samuels, Alex (November 7, 2018). "Democrats Nathan Johnson and Beverly Powell defeat state Sens. Don Huffines and Konni Burton in Texas midterm". The Texas Tribune.
  2. 1 2 3 "Thompson & Knight welcomes State Senator Nathan Johnson as Counsel in Dallas". Kinney Recruiting's Texas Chronicles. September 25, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Brajgowicz, Brooke (November 8, 2018). "Former 'Dragon Ball Z' Composer Nathan Johnson Elected to Texas State Senate". Billboard . Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "A 'Dragon Ball Z' Composer Unseated a Texas Republican Senator and Other Downballot Democratic Victories you didn't hear about". The Intercept . November 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Thompson Coburn Continues Growth With the Addition of Two Partners and a Texas State Senator as Counsel in Dallas". Thompson Coburn . July 17, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Bugenhagen, Faith (July 15, 2025). "A Democratic lawmaker just entered the crowded race for Texas Attorney General". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  7. ↑ Samuels, Alex (October 24, 2018). "Don Huffines faces Nathan Johnson, changing demographics and a potential blue wave". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (July 21, 2023). "Ken Paxton lawyers seek to disqualify 3 Democrats as impeachment jurors". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ Record of Proceedings of the High Court of Impeachment on the Trial of Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr, Attorney General of Texas. The Senate of Texas sitting as a High Court of Impeachment. September 5, 2023. p. 50.
  10. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (December 11, 2023). "Victoria Neave Criado files to challenge Nathan Johnson for Senate seat". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  11. ↑ Jankowski, Philip (March 6, 2024). "Sen. Nathan Johnson wins primary for Dallas state Senate seat". Dallas News. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Texas Legislature Online - 86(R) History for SB 916". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ Simpson, Stephen (March 23, 2023). "Bills call for Texas teachers to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to students". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ Broussard, Kailey (January 7, 2025). "Will 2025 be the year Texas expands Medicaid? Not likely, advocates say". KERA News. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  15. ↑ Harper, Karen Brooks (March 6, 2024). "State Sen. Nathan Johnson victorious after surprise challenge from Rep. Victoria Neave Criado". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Member profile for Nathan Johnson - Texas Legislative Reference Library". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Jaworski accuses Johnson of 'comforting a scoundrel' in fiery first Texas Attorney General debate for Democrats". wfaa.com. November 12, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Race Summary Report: 2018 General Election". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2018 Democratic Party Primary Results". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  20. ↑ Office of the Secretary of State. "Race Summary Report; 2022 General Election". sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  21. ↑ "2022 Texas Democratic Primary f Results". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
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