Mr. Johnson was elected to serve the 37th District in the Senate in 2021. He has served as Assistant Majority Leader since 2022. The senator previously served in the Assembly from 2002-2021. There, he held the roles of Speaker Pro Tempore from 2018-2021, Deputy Speaker from 2014-2018, Majority Conference Leader from 2012-2013, and Deputy Conference Leader from 2010-2011.

Senator Johnson was raised in Englewood, New Jersey. He served twenty-four years with the Englewood Police Department, attaining the rank of Patrol Sergeant. He is also experienced in labor relations and has served as President of the State P.B.A. Supervisory Officers Association-Local #216. In 1999, he was appointed Undersheriff of Bergen County. He subsequently served as Sheriff from 2001 to 2002. In the days following September 11th, 2001, Sheriff Johnson served as commander of the force assisting the Port Authority Police securing the George Washington Bridge as part of Bergen County’s response to the terrorist attacks. When the newly elected Sheriff took office, Gordon Johnson was asked to continue with the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department as Undersheriff and did so until 2005.

The senator also served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of Major in 2000. He is highly decorated and holds the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal and many more. In 1990, Senator Johnson served in Operation Desert Storm, where he was responsible for two Convoy Support Centers in the Saudi Arabian Desert. In 1996, he was deployed to Germany in support of Operation Joint Endeavor where he was part of a team that coordinated the activities and missions of the Civil Affairs units stationed in Bosnia.

Senator Johnson graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a bachelor’s degree in social science and holds a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Seton Hall University. In addition, he is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

He and his wife, Jacqueline, have three children.