Cavalier Johnson

Cavalier "Chevy" Johnson (born November 5, 1986)^[1] is an American politician who has served as the 45th mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served on the Milwaukee Common Council from 2016 to 2022.

Cavalier Johnson
Johnson in 2022
45th Mayor of Milwaukee
Incumbent
Assumed office December 22, 2021 Acting: December 22, 2021 – April 13, 2022
Preceded by	Tom Barrett
President of the Milwaukee Common Council
In office April 21, 2020 – April 13, 2022
Preceded by	Ashanti Hamilton
Succeeded by	José G. Pérez
Member of the Milwaukee Common Council from the 2nd district
In office April 19, 2016 – April 13, 2022
Preceded by	Joe Davis, Sr.
Succeeded by	Mark Chambers, Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1986-11-05) November 5, 1986 (age 38) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Dominique Johnson ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	3
Residence(s)	Capitol Heights, Wisconsin, U.S.
Education	University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA)

As president of the Common Council from 2020 to 2022, Johnson became acting mayor following the resignation of Tom Barrett. He was elected mayor in the 2022 special election, becoming the first African-American to be elected to that position.^[2] He is the city's second African-American mayor, following Marvin Pratt, who served as acting mayor in 2004.^[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

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 Concordia neighborhood.^[16] He is married and has three children.^[8]

Electoral data

Milwaukee Mayoral Special Election, 2022

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Nonpartisan Special Primary, February 15, 2022[17]
	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[17][18][19]
	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. 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. "Cavalier Johnson makes history as first elected Black mayor". WISN. April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
4. Torres, Alison Dirr and Ricardo. "A sharply divided Milwaukee Common Council votes Cavalier Johnson as president". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
5. "Meet the Alders". Milwaukee Magazine. April 21, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
6. 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. 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. "Mayor Johnson Moved to Concordia". Milwaukee Magazine. October 3, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
17. "Latest Election Results". city.milwaukee.gov. City of Milwaukee. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
18. "Overview and Live Results: California Congressional District 22, Other Special Elections". Decision Desk HQ. 270toWin. April 5, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
19. Summary Report - Spring Election - April 5, 2022 (Report). Milwaukee County. April 5, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

Further reading

• Bosman, Julie; Simmons, Dan (July 11, 2024). "Milwaukee's Mayor, No Fan of Trump, Is Thrilled to Host His Party". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2024.

External links

• Cavalier Johnson at IMDb 
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices
Preceded by Tom Barrett	Mayor of Milwaukee 2021–present Acting: 2021–2022	Incumbent