Ross Johnson (politician)

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.

Ross Johnson
Minority Leader of the California Senate
In office March 16, 1998 – April 27, 2000
Preceded by	Rob Hurtt
Succeeded by	Jim Brulte
Member of the California Senate from the 35th district
In office May 11, 1995 – November 30, 2004
Preceded by	Marian Bergeson
Succeeded by	John B. T. Campbell III
Minority Leader of the California Assembly
In office November 10, 1988 – July 17, 1991
Preceded by	Pat Nolan
Succeeded by	Bill Jones
Member of the California State Assembly
In office December 4, 1978 – May 11, 1995
Preceded by	William E. Dannemeyer
Succeeded by	Dick Ackerman
Constituency	72nd district (1992–1995) 64th district (1982–1992) 69th district (1978–1982)
Personal details
Born	(1939-09-28)September 28, 1939 North Dakota, US
Died	August 16, 2017(2017-08-16) (aged 77) Sacramento, California, US
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Diane Morris (m. 1968)
Children	2
Education	California State University, Fullerton Western State College of Law
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy

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]