Chris Johansen
{{Short description|American politician (born 1952)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Chris Johansen
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| alt =
| state_house = Maine
| district = 145th
| term_start = 2016
| term_end = November 19, 2021
| predecessor = Ricky Long{{R|ballotpedia}}
| successor =
| speaker =
| term_start2 =
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|4|03}}
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| spouse = Cindy (died in August 2021){{R|beaconcindy}}
| party = Republican
| relations =
| children = 2
| residence = Monticello, Maine
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Retired law enforcement officer
| profession =
| signature =
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| website =
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}}
Chris A. Johansen (born April 3, 1952) is an American politician from Maine.[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/170484/chris-johansen Chris Johansen's Biography], Vote Smart. Retrieved December 19, 2021. He served as a Republican in the Maine House of Representatives for Maine's 145th House of Representatives district, which comprises 20 towns in Aroostook County. An outspoken opponent of state-mandated public health measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, his wife later died from the disease. He resigned from office on November 19, 2021.
Maine House of Representatives
Johansen was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2016, replacing incumbent Ricky Long, who did not seek re-election. Johansen was re-elected to the Maine House in both 2018 and 2020.{{R|ballotpedia}}
=COVID-19=
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, Johansen was an outspoken opponent of state-mandated public health precautions taken in Maine to reduce the spread of COVID-19.{{R|mepublicjohansenhascovid}}{{R|bdncovid}} In April 2020 he organized two protests in the State Capitol against statewide business shutdowns, acknowledging the virus was public health threat but arguing restrictions should be relaxed in rural areas{{Cite web|last=Thistle|first=Scott|date=April 17, 2020|title=Maine lawmaker organizes protest of governor’s coronavirus restrictions|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/17/maine-lawmaker-organizes-protest-of-coronavirus-restrictions/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Portland Press Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418183452/https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/17/maine-lawmaker-organizes-protest-of-coronavirus-restrictions/ |archive-date=2020-04-18 }}{{Cite news|last=Whittle|first=Patrick|date=April 20, 2020|title=About 200 rally, urging Maine to reopen as virus persists|work=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/178e1efb6e03c352866ecf7462490955|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223101924/https://apnews.com/general-news-178e1efb6e03c352866ecf7462490955|archive-date=February 23, 2024|url-status=live}} and calling for a limited reopening of the state's economy.{{Cite web|last=MacDougall|first=Alexander|date=April 30, 2020|title=Second protest against coronavirus restrictions will violate governor’s order, Aroostook County organizer says|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2020/04/30/news/second-protest-against-coronavirus-restrictions-will-violate-governors-order-aroostook-county-organizer-says/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618102144/https://bangordailynews.com/2020/04/30/news/second-protest-against-coronavirus-restrictions-will-violate-governors-order-aroostook-county-organizer-says/ |archive-date=2020-06-18 }} He later joined a group of House lawmakers who refused to wear face masks in the Maine State House despite being required by House leadership to do so. A staged confrontation between these lawmakers and Capitol police drew media attention and lead to the representatives being stripped of their committee assignments for a period of time.{{R|mepublicjohansenhascovid}}{{R|pphseven}}{{R|newscenterseven}}
In late July 2021, both Johansen and his wife, Cindy, became ill with COVID-19.{{R|mepublicjohansenhascovid}}{{R|necnjhascovid}}{{R|pphcovid}}{{R|bdncovid}} Cindy was admitted to the hospital, and died on August 11.{{R|beaconcindy}}{{R|BDNconflictinginfo}} A week following her death, Johansen attended a rally in opposition to vaccine mandates for healthcare workers at the Maine State House.{{R|BDNconflictinginfo}}{{R|dailybeast}}{{R|bdndeathrally}} He later wrote his wife was reluctant to be vaccinated due to "the conflicting information we have been getting from day one."{{R|BDNconflictinginfo}}
On November 19, 2021, Johansen sent a letter to House Speaker Ryan Fecteau announcing his resignation, citing a need to tend to the family farm following his wife's death.{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Caitlin |title=GOP lawmaker cites wife’s COVID-19 death in resigning Aroostook County seat |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2021/11/29/politics/gop-lawmaker-whose-wife-died-of-covid-19-resigns-aroostook-county-seat/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=Bangor Daily News |date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129180306/https://bangordailynews.com/2021/11/29/politics/gop-lawmaker-whose-wife-died-of-covid-19-resigns-aroostook-county-seat/ |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |url-status=live}}
Career and personal life
Johansen is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps{{R|houseofficial}} and the Vietnam War.{{R|mehousegop}} He is retired from a career in law enforcement{{R|houseofficial}}{{R|mehousegop}} and lives in Monticello, Maine. Johansen has two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Rifle Association of America.{{R|houseofficial}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change | title=2016 Maine House District 145 Republican Primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Johansen
|votes = 325
|percentage = 52.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Roger Bouchard
|votes = 290
|percentage = 47.1%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 615
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2016 Maine House District 145 General Election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Johansen
|votes = 2,653
|percentage = 59.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = Randy Rockwell
|votes = 936
|percentage = 21.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Glenn Hines
|votes = 842
|percentage = 19.0%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4,431
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2018 Maine House District 145 Republican Primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Johansen
|votes = 716
|percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 716
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2018 Maine House District 145 General Election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Johansen
|votes = 2,281
|percentage = 66.5%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Laura Farnsworth
|votes = 1,148
|percentage = 33.5%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 3,429
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2020 Maine House District 145 Republican Primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Johansen
|votes = 738
|percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 738
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change | title=2020 Maine House District 145 General Election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Johansen
|votes = 3,484
|percentage = 76.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert Zabierek
|votes = 1,058
|percentage = 23.3%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4,542
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}{{R|ballotpedia}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Edward D. |title=Maine lawmaker who downplayed pandemic’s risk contracts COVID-19 |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/07/23/maine-lawmaker-who-downplayed-pandemics-risk-contracts-covid-19/ |website=Portland Press Herald |access-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210724162633/https://www.pressherald.com/2021/07/23/maine-lawmaker-who-downplayed-pandemics-risk-contracts-covid-19/ |archive-date=24 July 2021 |date=23 July 2021}}
{{cite web |last1=Harnish |first1=Kathryn |title=Opinion: Who benefits—and who loses—from COVID-19 disinformation? |url=https://mainebeacon.com/opinion-who-benefits-and-who-loses-from-covid-19-disinformation/ |website=Maine Beacon |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210820182814/https://mainebeacon.com/opinion-who-benefits-and-who-loses-from-covid-19-disinformation/?fbclid=IwAR0Wnq30yMxJZV-Y9T6POJmms8nOAUrv4_-7JAoI3qsNn6dsdQpbGJsaQ9k |archive-date=20 August 2021 |date=20 August 2021}}
{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Zoe |title=Maine Lawmaker Whose Wife Just Died of COVID Joins Anti-Vaxx Rally |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/chris-johansen-maine-lawmaker-whose-wife-cindy-johansen-died-of-covid-joins-anti-vaxx-rally |website=The Daily Beast |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210820195425/https://www.thedailybeast.com/chris-johansen-maine-lawmaker-whose-wife-cindy-johansen-died-of-covid-joins-anti-vaxx-rally |archive-date=20 August 2021 |date=20 August 2021}}
{{cite web |last1=Stockley |first1=Leela |title=Maine lawmaker who opposed coronavirus restrictions reportedly has COVID-19 |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2021/07/23/news/aroostook/maine-lawmaker-who-opposed-coronavirus-restrictions-reportedly-has-covid-19/ |website=Bangor Daily News |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210820200925/https://bangordailynews.com/2021/07/23/news/aroostook/maine-lawmaker-who-opposed-coronavirus-restrictions-reportedly-has-covid-19/#selection-1393.4-1393.79 |archive-date=20 August 2021 |date=23 July 2021}}
{{cite web |last1=Stockley |first1=Leela |title=Maine lawmaker who reportedly lost wife to COVID attends anti-mandate rally |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2021/08/20/news/maine-lawmaker-who-reportedly-lost-wife-to-covid-attends-anti-mandate-rally/ |website=Bangor Daily News |access-date=21 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210821164452/https://bangordailynews.com/2021/08/20/news/maine-lawmaker-who-reportedly-lost-wife-to-covid-attends-anti-mandate-rally/ |archive-date=21 August 2021 |date=20 August 2021}}
{{cite web |last1=Mistler |first1=Steve |title=GOP lawmaker says wife who died of COVID-19 didn’t get vaccine due to ‘conflicting information’ |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2021/08/23/news/gop-lawmaker-says-wife-who-died-of-covid-19-didnt-get-vaccine-due-to-conflicting-information/?fbclid=IwAR26s25HCKDS-g9Of1PJo6CuwO3f8v8IBJm-tYgFj0-Ik8soyyDWslJeB6E |website=Bangor Daily News |access-date=24 August 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210824163913/https://bangordailynews.com/2021/08/23/news/gop-lawmaker-says-wife-who-died-of-covid-19-didnt-get-vaccine-due-to-conflicting-information/?fbclid=IwAR26s25HCKDS-g9Of1PJo6CuwO3f8v8IBJm-tYgFj0-Ik8soyyDWslJeB6E |archive-date=24 August 2021 |date=23 August 2021}}
}}
External links
- [https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/Details/93 Profile at Maine House of Representatives]
- [https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/170484/chris-johansen Chris Johansen] at Vote Smart
- [https://www.wagmtv.com/2021/03/03/rep-chris-johansen-weighs-in-on-current-legislative-session/ Rep. Chris Johansen Weighs in on Current Legislative Session] (video) on WAGM. March 2, 2021
{{Maine House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johansen, Chris A.}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Maine House of Representatives
Category:People from Aroostook County, Maine