Drew Johnson
{{Short description|American journalist (born 1979)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Drew Johnson
| image = Drew Johnson in the newsroom of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Nov. 17, 2012.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Johnson in 2012
| birth_name = Jason Andrew Johnson
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|27|2007|2|6|slash=yes}}{{cite news |title=Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth'? -- A $30,000 Utility Bill |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/GlobalWarming/story?id=2906888&page=1 |access-date=October 27, 2023 |work=ABC News |date=February 26, 2007 |language=en}}
| birth_place = Johnson City, Tennessee
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| party = Republican
| other_names =
| occupation = Political commentator and columnist
| years_active =
| known_for = Founded Tennessee Center for Policy Research
| notable_works =
}}
Jason Andrew Johnson{{cite web |title=Drew Johnson's Biography |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/215541/drew-johnson |website=Vote Smart |access-date=October 22, 2024}} is an American political columnist, policy analyst, and former think tank founder and executive. He was the Republican nominee for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in the 2024 election.{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2024 |title=AP: Drew Johnson, Mark Robertson win primaries |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/ap-drew-johnson-mark-robertson-win-primaries-3067192/ |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}} He is running for Nevada State Treasurer in the 2026 election.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jessica |title=Former congressional candidate makes bid for Nevada state treasurer |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/former-congressional-candidate-makes-bid-for-nevada-state-treasurer-3376130/ |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=22 May 2025}}
Johnson is known as a government waste expert and government watchdog. He writes frequently about tax and budget issues, technology and telecommunications policy, and the environment, and is credited with popularizing the use of investigative journalism by think tanks.{{cite web|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/blog/20407909/the-tennessee-center-for-policy-research-of-al-gores-electric-bills| url-status = dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410225322/https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/blog/20407909/the-tennessee-center-for-policy-research-of-al-gores-electric-bills| archive-date = April 10, 2020| title = The Tennessee Center For Policy Research Of Al Gore's Electric Bills {{!}} Nashville Post}}{{Cite news|url=https://noogatoday.6amcity.com/nine-questions-with-drew-johnson/?fb_comment_id=395284590541523_3503473|title=Nine questions with Drew Johnson|newspaper=Noogatoday |date=October 15, 2012}}
He was the founder and first president of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, now known as the Beacon Center of Tennessee.Jeff Woods, [http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/the-great-gadfly/Content?oid=1197977 The Great Gadfly: How a baby-faced kid became the governor's No. 1 nemesis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222102/http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/the-great-gadfly/Content?oid=1197977 |date=March 3, 2016 }}, Nashville Scene, September 11, 2008 He later edited the editorial page of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He is a former columnist and editorial writer at The Washington Times.{{cite news|last1=Boucher|first1=Dave|title=Beacon Center grows, helps defeat Insure TN|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/05/22/beacon-center-grows-helps-defeat-insure-tn/27750513/|accessdate=July 8, 2015|publisher=The Tennessean|date=May 24, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://wjactv.com/news/local/former-washington-times-reporter-who-investigated-higgins-says-its-about-time|title = Former Washington Times reporter who investigated Higgins says 'It's about time'|date = April 4, 2018}}
Johnson also worked at the National Taxpayers Union, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and the American Enterprise Institute.{{Cite web |last=Chenoweth |first=Paul |date=January 22, 2004 |title=Belmont Grad Provides Expert National Political Research |url=https://news.belmont.edu/belmont-grad-provides-expert-national-political-research/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=Belmont University News & Media |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2011 |title=MEDIA ALERT: Government Waste Expert Drew Johnson Joins TPA as Senior Fellow |url=https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/drew-johnson/media-alert-government-waste-expert-drew-johnson-joins-tpa-as-senior-fellow/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=Taxpayers Protection Alliance |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Drew Johnson named as Free Press opinion page editor |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2012/jun/09/johnson-named-opinion-editor-free-press/79929/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=timesfreepress.com|date=June 9, 2012 }}
He was narrowly defeated in a 2022 bid for the Clark County Commission.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Jessica |title=GOP’s Drew Johnson takes aim at Susie Lee for US House seat |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/gops-drew-johnson-takes-aim-at-susie-lee-for-us-house-seat-2772273/ |access-date=October 27, 2023 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=May 4, 2023}}
The Nevada Independent called Johnson's result in the 2024 Republican primary "a surprise win" in the four-way race.{{Cite web |last=Birenbaum |first=Gabby |date=June 16, 2024 |title=After surprise primary win, can Drew Johnson flip Nevada's swingiest House seat? |url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/after-surprise-primary-win-can-drew-johnson-flip-nevadas-swingiest-house-seat |access-date=June 21, 2024 |website=The Nevada Independent |language=en}}
Early life
Johnson grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee, and graduated from Science Hill High School in 1997. He was raised by a single mother who worked two jobs. The family lived in a trailer home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Community/2015/01/19/Beacon-Center-s-light-doesn-t-shine-on-everyone|title = Beacon Center's light doesn't shine on everyone| date=January 18, 2015 }} He then earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Belmont University and a Master of Public Policy degree from Pepperdine University.{{cite news|title=Drew Johnson named opinion page editor for Free Press|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2012/jun/08/drew-johnson-named-editorial-page-editor-free-pres/79899/|accessdate=August 9, 2015|publisher=Chattanooga Times Free Press|date=June 8, 2012}} Johnson was a Koch Fellow at the Institute for Humane Studies and the American Enterprise Institute.{{cite news |first=Josh |last=Harkinson |url=https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2009/12/dirty-dozen-climate-change-denial-04-tennessee-center-policy-research |title=The Dirty Dozen of Climate Change Denial, No. 10: Tennessee Center for Policy Research (A.K.A. Carnival of Climate Change) |magazine=Mother Jones |date=December 4, 2009 |accessdate=March 29, 2017}} Johnson lived out of his car while starting his career.
Career
=Tennessee Center for Policy Research=
Johnson founded the Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR) in 2004. Under his leadership, the organization used the Tennessee Open Records Act of obtain Al Gore's home energy bills the day after the former Vice President won an Academy Award for the climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth.{{Cite web|url=https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2017/08/01/al-gores-inconvenient-reality-the-former-vice-presidents-home-energy-use-surges-up-to-34-times-the-national-average-despite-costly-green-renovations-by-drew-johnso/|title = Al Gore's Inconvenient Reality: The Former Vice President's Home Energy Use Surges up to 34 Times the National Average Despite Costly Green Renovations, by Drew Johnson|date = August 2017}} The records showed that, in 2006, Gore's Belle Meade, Tennessee home consumed nearly 221,000 kWh of electricity—more than 20 times the national average.{{Cite web|url=https://www.beacontn.org/al-gores-personal-energy-use-is-his-own-inconvenient-truth/|title=Al Gore's Personal Energy Use is His Own "Inconvenient Truth"}} In 2006, Gore spent an average of $1,359 per month to power the home.
After releasing Al Gore's home energy consumption, Johnson and other TCPR employees received death threats, harassing emails and threatening phone calls from Gore supporters and environmental activists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org/commentary/the-left-wing-echo-chamber|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208153451/https://www.heritage.org/commentary/the-left-wing-echo-chamber|url-status=unfit|archive-date=December 8, 2019|title = The Left-Wing Echo Chamber}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2007/04/wheres-tolerance-deroy-murdock/|title = Where's the Tolerance?|website = National Review|date = April 9, 2007}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/G-ILOyxjB4Q Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210817165910/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-ILOyxjB4Q Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-ILOyxjB4Q| title = Penn & Teller: BS! - Being Green | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The Nevada Independent wrote that "Much of his research highlights waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government — he is most famous for using public records to calculate climate champion and former Vice President Al Gore's home energy use in Tennessee."
Johnson left TCPR at the end of 2009.[http://nashvillepost.com/taxonomy/term/18323 Clint Brewer Now Top Dog At TCPR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808143704/http://nashvillepost.com/taxonomy/term/18323 |date=August 8, 2011 }}, Nashville Post, October 29, 2009 In May 2011, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance announced that he would join that organization as a senior fellow.[http://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/index.php?blog&action=view&post_id=21 Government Waste Expert Drew Johnson Joins TPA as Senior Fellow]
=''Chattanooga Times Free Press''=
On July 1, 2012, Johnson joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press as opinion editor for the Free Press editorial page, writing editorials and a weekly column. Under Johnson, the Chattanooga Times Free Press became the largest newspaper in the United States to endorse Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson during the 2012 United States presidential election cycle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/freepress/story/2012/oct/24/1024b-fp1-gary-johnson-for-president/91028/|title = Gary Johnson for president| date=October 24, 2012 }}
On August 1, 2013, the newspaper announced that Johnson was terminated for violating the newspaper's standards in altering an editorial headline to tell Barack Obama to "Take Your Jobs Plan and Shove It," a play on the classic country music song "Take This Job and Shove It."{{Cite web|url=http://dailytorch.com/2013/08/read-the-headline-that-got-drew-johnson-fired-take-your-jobs-plan-and-shove-it-mr-president-your-policies-have-harmed-chattanooga-enough/|title = Read the headline that got Drew Johnson fired: 'Take your jobs plan and shove it, Mr. President: Your policies have harmed Chattanooga enough'}} The newspaper stated the alteration was "inappropriate" and that Johnson did not follow normal editing procedures.{{cite news|last1=Mirkinson|first1=Jack|title=Drew Johnson, Chattanooga Editor, Fired Over Anti-Obama Headline|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/01/drew-johnson-fired-chattanooga-obama-headline_n_3691125.html|accessdate=August 9, 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=August 1, 2013}} Johnson later claimed that his firing was a result of the criticizing Chattanooga's electric company, EPB, one of the newspaper's largest advertisers.{{Cite web|url=https://noogatoday.6amcity.com/whatever-happened-to-drew-johnson/|title = Whatever happened to Drew Johnson?|date = March 24, 2014}} "When I explained how EPB scammed taxpayers out of hundreds of millions of dollars... EPB pulled its ads from the paper," Johnson said. "I know the paper was frustrated with losing money because I was willing to speak the truth about bad actors in the community."
=Media and think tanks=
Johnson then joined The Washington Times as a columnist, editorial writer and author of the newspaper's weekly "Golden Hammer" column, which exposed an egregious example of wasteful spending of tax dollars.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/26/drew-johnson-virginia-private-property-rights-save/|title = DREW JOHNSON: Virginia private property rights saved Colonial America|website = The Washington Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/11/golden-hammer-feds-spends-millions-to-study-drunke/|title = Golden Hammer: Feds spend millions to study drunken monkeys, pilots and students|website = The Washington Times}} Johnson also hosted a weekly "Golden Hammer" television segment based on the column that was available on some Sinclair Broadcast Group stations' local news broadcasts.{{Cite web|url=https://wpde.com/news/local/questionable-accounting-hides-100-million-in-purchases-at-illinois-college|title=Questionable accounting hides $100 million in purchases at Illinois college|date=October 3, 2014}}
In April 2016, Johnson was named National Director of Protect Internet Freedom, a group formed to push back on new net neutrality rules and federal preemption of state laws limiting municipal broadband buildouts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/protect-internet-freedom-names-drew-johnson-executive-director-155871|title=Protect Internet Freedom Names Drew Johnson Executive Director|date=April 22, 2016}} He joined the National Center for Public Policy Research as a senior scholar in 2017.
Johnson again investigated Al Gore's home energy use in a 2017 report written for the National Center for Public Policy Research. According to information obtained through the Nashville Electric Service, energy consumption at Gore's Nashville-area house increased from 2006 to 2017, despite installing 33 solar panels on the home following the initial criticism. In 2017, Gore's home used 21.3 times more energy per month than a typical American household.
Political views
Johnson is a libertarian-leaning Republican.
He has opposed the death penalty and the Patriot Act, spoken out against anti-Muslim bias and criticized Republicans for increasing government spending.{{Cite web|url=https://conservativesconcerned.org/drew-johnson-capital-punishment-inconsistent-with-conservative-views/|title = Drew Johnson: Capital punishment inconsistent with conservative views|date = December 2, 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatches/2012/07/24/tn-tea-party-goes-archie-bunker/|title=TN Tea Party Goes Archie Bunker|date=July 24, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/5/johnson-misspending-gop-capital-in-mississippi/|title = JOHNSON: Misspending GOP capital on Cochran in Mississippi|website = The Washington Times}} He has also written in support of free speech, gay marriage and drug legalization.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adisgruntledrepublican.com/2012/12/drew-johnsons-support-of-gay-marriage.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229135828/http://www.adisgruntledrepublican.com/2012/12/drew-johnsons-support-of-gay-marriage.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 29, 2012|title = Drew Johnson's support of gay marriage}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/freepress/story/2013/may/02/right-side-round-table/106893/|title=Right Side Round Table: Should marijuana be legalized? Hamilton County Grand Jury thinks so|date=May 2, 2013 }}
In 2016, Johnson called Trump a "socialist" and in 2020 called his presidency an "embarrassment" after a federal execution. But in 2024, Johnson endorsed Trump's 2024 presidential run. Johnson has said he wants to be in Congress to help move the Republican Party beyond Trump.
In June 2024, he told The Nevada Independent if elected he would vote against government funded-abortion services and against a national abortion ban, believing that the Dobbs decision left the issue "appropriately" up to the states.
Public service
Johnson served as commissioner on the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth from 1997 to 2006, and was named to the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights in 2008.{{cite web |title=Drew Johnson |url=https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/staff/drew-johnson/ |publisher=National Center for Public Policy Research |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
He currently serves as the public member of the Nevada State Board of Optometry.{{cite web |title=Nevada State Board of Optometry |url=https://nvoptometry.org/ |website=Nevada State Board of Optometry |access-date=October 27, 2023}}
Personal life
He is married to marketing consultant and travel blogger Sarah Reeves Johnson and they live in Las Vegas. They moved there in 2015 when seeking a friendly environment to start a small business.
Johnson is credited with starting the Vegas Golden Knights' "Victory Flamingo" tradition, in which fans of the NHL team toss pink plastic flamingos on the ice in celebration of Vegas Golden Knights victories.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/video/stanley-cup-final-meet-vegas-golden-knights-flamingo-man|title = Stanley Cup Final: Meet the Vegas Golden Knights Flamingo Man|date = May 29, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/meet-the-victory-flamingo-how-golden-knights-fans-got-behind/article_f5ca1825-868b-5cef-ab7a-29969e88988a.html|title=Meet the Victory Flamingo: How Golden Knights fans got behind the tradition}}{{Cite web|url=https://real1039.iheart.com/featured/vegas-golden-knights/content/2018-05-17-do-you-believe-in-the-power-of-the-victory-flamingo/|title=Do You Believe in the Power of the "Victory Flamingo"? | REAL 103.9}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Nevada's 3rd congressional district Republican primary results{{cite web |title=2024 Official Statewide Primary Election Results |url=https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2024StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |publisher=Nevada Secretary of State |access-date=February 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112220040/https://www.nvsos.gov/SOSelectionPages/results/2024StateWidePrimary/ElectionSummary.aspx |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |url-status=live}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Drew Johnson|votes=10,519|percentage=32.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Dan Schwartz|votes=7,351|percentage=22.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Elizabeth Helgelien|votes=6,784|percentage=20.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Martin O'Donnell|votes=6,727|percentage=20.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Steven Schiffman|votes=594|percentage=1.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Steve London|votes=495|percentage=1.5}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Brian Nadell|votes=446|percentage=1.4}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=32,916|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Nevada's 3rd congressional district general election{{cite web |title=Silver State 2024 Election Results |url=https://silverstateelection.nv.gov/USCongress/ |website=silverstateelection.nv.gov |publisher=Nevada Secretary of State |access-date=February 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250131235035/https://silverstateelection.nv.gov/USCongress/ |archive-date=January 31, 2025 |url-status=live}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Susie Lee (incumbent)|votes=191,304|percentage=51.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Drew Johnson|votes=181,084|percentage=48.6}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=372,388|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://drewfornevada.com/ Campaign website]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Drew}}
Category:American male journalists
Category:The Washington Times people
Category:People from Johnson City, Tennessee
Category:Belmont University alumni
Category:Pepperdine University alumni
Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections