Gloria Johnson

Gloria Johnson is an American Democratic politician serving in the Tennessee House of Representatives, currently representing District 90 based in Knoxville. She previously represented District 13 from 2013 to 2022.

Johnson gained significant national attention in April 2023 when she and two other state representatives took to the floor of the State House unrecognized to protest gun violence. She was the only one of the three legislators not to be expelled from the chamber. In 2024, she served as the Democratic Party nominee for the United States Senate election in Tennessee, losing to incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn.

Education

Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in special education and teaching from the University of Tennessee in 1986.

Political Experience

Johnson's career includes 27 years working as a special education teacher at Central High School in Fountain City. She also worked as a consultant with Change Driven Strategies and as a caregiver with Seniors Helping Seniors.

Her electoral history includes winning election to the Tennessee House in 2012, losing her re-election bid in 2014, losing again in 2016, then winning her seat back in 2018 and 2020. Following redistricting in 2022, she moved to District 90 and won election there.

Johnson has held several leadership positions within the Democratic Party, including serving as chair of the Knox County Democratic Party and as a board member of Emerge TN and the Tennessee Women's Political Caucus. She also served as Democratic Caucus Treasurer from 2022 to 2023.