on August 5, 2025, during the
2025 Texas walkout, accompanied by other Texas legislators, Massachusetts Gov.
Maura Healey, and Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
William F. Galvin.In 2018, Johnson ran for Texas State Senate in District 16. The district had been shifting to align with the Democrats and in an upset Johnson defeated incumbent Republican Don Huffines by eight percent. During the
impeachment trial of
Attorney General Ken Paxton, Paxton's attorneys made a motion to disqualify Johnson and two other senators from serving as jurors in the case, claiming they had shown bias and could not be impartial.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick dismissed this motion. In 2024, Johnson faced a primary challenge from State Representative
Victoria Neave Criado who accused him of being too moderate and not in step with the Democratic Party, specifically when it came to immigration policy. Johnson won the primary with just under 60% of the votes.
Political positions Johnson has frequently pushed for legislation related to expanding access to medical care in the state. This includes authoring legislation to expand the definition of
palliative care, decriminalize the use of
fentanyl testing strips, and
expand Medicaid.
The Texas Tribune notes that Johnson's centrist voting record is nearly indistinguishable from most of the other Democrats in the Texas Senate according to political scientists and he has generally avoided partisan attacks from the left.
Committee assignments Source: • 89th Legislature • Jurisprudence (Vice-Chair) • Business & Commerce • Economic Development • Transportation • Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs • 88th Legislature • Jurisprudence (Vice-Chair) • Administration • Business & Commerce • Texas Energy Fund Advisory • Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs • 87th Legislature • Administration (Vice-Chair) • Business & Commerce • Jurisprudence • Redistricting, Special • Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs • 86th Legislature • Administration • Health and Human Affairs • Veteran Affairs and Border Security • Water and Rural Affairs ==2026 Attorney General bid==