Rob Johnson | |
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Member of the IowaHouseofRepresentatives from the 34th district | |
Assumed office January 13, 2025 | |
Preceded by | Ako Abdul-Samad |
Personal details | |
Born | January 21,1988 |
Political party | Democratic |
Residence(s) | Des Moines,Iowa,U.S. |
Occupation | Insurance agent |
Website | Official website ![]() |
Robert James Johnson (born January 21,1988) is an American politician. He was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in November 2024,succeeding Ako Abdul-Samad in District 34.
Johnson was raised in Chicago by his mother Janice. [1] At the age of six,he and two of his sisters were placed in the care of their godparents before an aunt assumed guardianship. [2] Johnson moved to Des Moines,Iowa,in 2006, [1] and graduated from Drake University in 2010 with a bachelor of arts in politics. [3] [4] While attending Drake,Johnson co-hosted The Young Legends Not Yet but Soon to Be on KDRA-LP. [2] He also served on the Student Senate. [4]
Outside of politics,he works for Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, [3] is an associate minister at Corinthian Baptist Church, [1] and hosts the Fueling Hope Annual Gas Giveaway in Des Moines. [5] The event began in 2022, [6] as a way for Johnson to celebrate his birthday. [7] [8]
Johnson served as a deputy campaign manager for Ako Abdul-Samad in 2014 [3] [9] and was responsible for religious outreach on behalf of the Democratic ticket in Iowa during the 2018 Iowa Secretary of State election, [1] the 2020 United States presidential election and the 2022 Iowa gubernatorial election. [3] [9] After Abdul-Samad announced his retirement from the Iowa House of Representatives in 2024,Johnson announced his candidacy,and received endorsements from Abdul-Samad and Rob Sand. [10] Johnson won a Democratic Party primary for District 34 against three other candidates, [11] and defeated the Republican candidate Danielle Duggan in the general election. [9]