Johnny Isakson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Johnny Isakson

| image = Johnny Isakson official Senate photo.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2014

| jr/sr = United States Senator

| state = Georgia

| term_start = January 3, 2005

| term_end = December 31, 2019

| predecessor = Zell Miller

| successor = Kelly Loeffler

| office1 = Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee

| term_start1 = January 3, 2015

| term_end1 = December 19, 2019

| predecessor1 = Bernie Sanders

| successor1 = Jerry Moran

| office2 = Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee

| term_start2 = January 3, 2015

| term_end2 = December 19, 2019

| predecessor2 = Barbara Boxer

| successor2 = James Lankford

| state3 = Georgia

| district3 = {{ushr|GA|6|6th}}

| term_start3 = February 23, 1999

| term_end3 = January 3, 2005

| predecessor3 = Newt Gingrich

| successor3 = Tom Price

| state_senate4 = Georgia State

| district4 = 21st

| term_start4 = January 11, 1993

| term_end4 = January 6, 1997

| predecessor4 = William F. English{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=790268|title=Our Campaigns – GA State Senate 21 Race – Nov 03, 1992|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}

| successor4 = Robert Lamutt{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=790053|title=Our Campaigns – GA State Senate 21 Race – Nov 08, 1994|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}

| office5 = Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives

| term_start5 = January 10, 1983

| term_end5 = January 11, 1991

| predecessor5 = Herbert Jones Jr.

| successor5 = Paul Heard

| office6 = Member of the
Georgia House of Representatives
from Cobb County

| term_start6 = January 10, 1977

| term_end6 = January 11, 1991

| predecessor6 = Charles W. Edwards

| successor6 = Lynda Coker

| constituency6 = 20-Post 1 (1977–1983)
21-Post 2 (1983–1991)

| birth_name = John Hardy Isakson

| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|12|28}}

| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| death_date = {{nowrap|{{death date and age|2021|12|19|1944|12|28}}}}

| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Dianne Davison|1968}}

| children = 3

| education = University of Georgia (BBA)

| signature = JohnnyIsaksonSignature.jpg

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}

| branch = {{air force|United States}}

| serviceyears = 1966–1972

| rank = Staff Sergeant

| unit = Georgia Air National Guard

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Johnny Isakson Honors Georgian T. Rogers Wade.ogg|title=Johnny Isakson's voice|type=speech|description=Isakson honors Georgian businessman and political operative T. Rogers Wade
Recorded February 15, 2011}}

}}

John Hardy Isakson (December 28, 1944 – December 19, 2021) was an American businessman and politician who served as a United States senator from Georgia from 2005 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Georgia legislature and the United States House of Representatives.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Isakson served in the Georgia Air National Guard (1966–1972) and graduated from the University of Georgia. He opened a real estate branch for Northside Realty and later served 22 years as the company's president. After a failed bid for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974, he was elected in 1976. He served seven terms, including four as minority leader. Isakson was the Republican candidate for governor of Georgia in 1990, but lost. Two years later, he was elected to the Georgia Senate and served one term. He unsuccessfully ran in the Republican primary in the 1996 U.S. Senate election.

After 6th District Congressman and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich resigned, Isakson ran in the February 1999 special election to succeed him, winning by a 40-point margin. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004 after Democratic incumbent Zell Miller opted not to run for re-election. With the backing of much of Georgia's Republican establishment, he won both the primary and general elections by wide margins. He became the senior senator from Georgia when Saxby Chambliss retired in 2015. On December 31, 2019, midway through his third Senate term, Isakson resigned from the Senate due to health concerns and was succeeded by fellow Republican Kelly Loeffler who was appointed by Brian Kemp, the Republican Governor of Georgia, to fill the vacant seat. He died two years later on December 19, 2021.

Early life, education, and real estate career

Isakson was born on December 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Julia (née Baker) and Edwin Andrew Isakson, a Greyhound bus driver,{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23632-2004Nov3.html |title=GEORGIA Johnny Isakson (R) |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 4, 2004 |access-date=August 29, 2010}} who later established an Atlanta real estate firm.{{cite news|title=Atlanta roots lie under real estate's family tree |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/05/10/focus12.html|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle|date=May 10, 2010}} His paternal grandparents were of Swedish descent, and his paternal grandfather was born in Östersund. His mother was of mostly British ancestry, and her family has been in the American South since the colonial era.{{cite web |url=https://isakson.senate.gov/floor/2005/041305immigration.htm |title=Floor Statement on Immigration Reform Remarks as Delivered on the Senate Floor |date=April 13, 2005 |publisher=Johnny Isakson |access-date=February 20, 2007 }}{{Cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/isakson.htm |title=Johnny Isakson ancestry |access-date=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809110222/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/isakson.htm |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Isakson served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972, leaving service as a staff sergeant.{{cite web| title = Veterans in the US Senate 109th Congress| publisher = Navy League| url = http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs/SenateVets.pdf| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070628064917/http://www.navyleague.org/legislative_affairs/SenateVets.pdf| archive-date = June 28, 2007| access-date = December 9, 2006 }} Isakson enrolled at the University of Georgia, where he became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity.{{cite web|title=Greeks in the 113th Congress |url=http://www.nicindy.org/blog/greeks-in-the-113th-congress/ |publisher=North-American Interfraternity Conference |access-date=September 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327052229/http://www.nicindy.org/blog/greeks-in-the-113th-congress/ |archive-date=March 27, 2014 }}{{cite news |title=Three-term Senator to retire |url=https://therecordonline.net/featured/three-term-senator-to-retire/ |access-date=20 December 2021 |work=The Record Online |quote=Sigma Alpha Epsilon has a rich history of Brothers who have served the United States in an elected office, but few as many times as Johnny Isakson (Georgia ’66). He holds the distinction of being the only person elected to represent the state of Georgia in the state House (1977-1990, seven terms), state Senate (1993-1997, two terms), U.S. House (1999-2005, two terms) and U.S. Senate (2005-present, three terms).}} Shortly after graduating from UGA, he opened the first Cobb County office of Northside Realty, a prominent Atlanta-area real estate firm that his father, Ed, helped to establish. Isakson became company president in 1979, a post he held for 22 years, during which Northside became the biggest independent real estate company in the Southeast and one of the largest in the United States.{{cite web|title=Johnny Isakson Senate|url=https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/about-johnny|website=Johnny Isakson Biography|access-date=November 18, 2014|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909042420/https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/about-johnny|url-status=dead}}{{better source needed|date=March 2020}}

Early political career (1974–1998)

File:Johnny Isakson 1977.png

=Georgia House of Representatives=

In 1974, Isakson first ran for the Georgia House of Representatives in an eastern Cobb County district and lost. He ran again in 1976 and won. He served seven terms in the House. He won re-election unopposed in 1984{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=699421|title=Our Campaigns – GA State House 021 Race – Nov 06, 1984|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} and 1988.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=699410|title=Our Campaigns – GA State House 021 Post 2 Race – Nov 08, 1988|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} In his last four terms (1983–1990), he was the Republican Minority leader. In 1988 and 1996, he was co-chair for U.S. Senator Bob Dole's presidential primary campaigns.{{cite web |title=Johnny Isakson will seek Senate seat |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2003/01/13/daily32.html |website=bizjournals.com |publisher=American City Business Journals |access-date=22 July 2020}}

=1990 gubernatorial election=

File:Reagan Contact Sheet C37241 (cropped).jpg in 1986]]

Isakson was the Republican candidate for Governor of Georgia in 1990. He won the Republican primary with 74% of the vote in a four candidate field.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=672624|title=Our Campaigns – GA Governor – R Primary Race – Jul 17, 1990|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} In the general election, he was defeated by Democratic Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller 53%–45%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=14420|title=Our Campaigns – GA Governor Race – Nov 06, 1990|website=www.ourcampaigns.com}} His campaign was managed by Jay Morgan while Miller's campaign was managed by James Carville. Miller ran on a pledge to start a state lottery and use the revenue for public schools. Isakson proposed a ballot referendum on the lottery.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/10/12/lotto-fever-in-georgia-governors-race/514a5c8f-2fae-47bb-a9aa-b65cc3546792/|title=Lotto Fever in Georgia Governor's Race|last=Parker|first=Laura|date=October 12, 1990|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=December 20, 2021}}

=Georgia Senate=

File:Bush Contact Sheet P15017 (cropped).jpg in 1990]]

In 1992, Isakson was elected to the Georgia Senate.{{cite web |last1=McKee |first1=Don |title=DON McKEE: Sen. Johnny Isakson: Tireless warrior for veterans, citizens |url=https://www.mdjonline.com/opinion/don-mckee-sen-johnny-isakson-tireless-warrior-for-veterans-citizens/article_e878d6d6-6fda-11e6-84a1-c7b0017fa802.html |website=mdjonline.com |date=August 31, 2016 |publisher=Marietta Daily Journal |access-date=22 July 2020}}

=1996 U.S. Senate election=

In 1996, Isakson ran in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Sam Nunn. During his campaign, Isakson expressed his support for abortion rights in a campaign advertisement.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/16/us/georgian-makes-a-bold-stand-on-abortion.html|title=Georgian Makes a Bold Stand on Abortion|first=Kevin|last=Sack|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 16, 1996}} Isakson finished second in the primary election with 35% of the vote, but the winner Guy Millner, a millionaire businessman, failed to get a majority of the vote (receiving only 42%).{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174300|title=Our Campaigns – GA US Senate – R Primary Race – Jul 09, 1996|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=August 6, 2018}} Therefore, per Georgia law, he was forced into a primary runoff election. Millner defeated Isakson in the runoff 53%–47%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=174301|title=Our Campaigns – GA US Senate – R Runoff Race – Aug 06, 1996|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=August 6, 2018}} Millner lost the general election to Democrat Max Cleland.{{cite web |title=Ga.: Democrats Win Key Senate Battle In Peach State |url=https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9611/05/senate/ga/ |website=cnn.com |publisher=Cable News Network (CNN) |access-date=22 July 2020}}

In December 1996, Isakson was appointed head of the State Board of Education by Gov. Zell Miller.Almanac of American Politics 2008, p. 463.

U.S. House of Representatives (1999–2005)

=Elections=

;1999

In November 1998, 6th District U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich faced a revolt in his caucus after the Republicans lost five seats in the midterm elections. Amid the turmoil, Gingrich announced on Friday after the Tuesday elections not only that he would not run for a third term as Speaker, but he would also not take his seat for an eleventh term beginning in January 1999. Isakson ran for the seat in a special election in February. He won the election with 65% of the vote, forty points ahead of the second-place finisher Christina Fawcett Jeffrey.{{cite web|url=http://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/1999_0223/|title=Official Results of the February 23, 1999 Special Election|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State|date=March 16, 1999|access-date=April 28, 2018|archive-date=February 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211095053/https://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/1999_0223/|url-status=dead}}

;2000

Isakson won re-election to his first full term with 74.75% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=343|title=Our Campaigns – GA District 6 Race – Nov 07, 2000|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=August 6, 2018}}

;2002

Isakson won re-election to his second full term with 79.87% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1003|title=Our Campaigns – GA District 6 Race – Nov 05, 2002|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=August 6, 2018}} File:Bush Air Force One.jpg and Senator Isakson aboard Air Force One in 2005.]]

=Tenure=

During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Isakson served on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, aiding President Bush in passing the No Child Left Behind Act. As a Representative, Isakson sponsored 27 bills.{{cite web|title=Representative Isakson's Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/johnny-isakson/1608?q=%7B%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%2C%22congress%22%3A%5B%22106%22%2C%22107%22%2C108%5D%7D|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=December 8, 2014}} He was a member of the U.S. House Education Committee.{{cite web |title=Column: In their own words: Isakson's impact on education |url=https://www.augustachronicle.com/opinion/20191221/column-in-their-own-words-isaksons-impact-on-education |website=Augustachronicle.com |publisher=The Augusta Chronicle |access-date=22 July 2020}} In October 2002, Isakson voted in favor of the authorization of force against the country of Iraq.{{cite web | url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 455|website=U.S. House|format=H J RES 114 YEA-AND-NAY |date=2002-10-10 |df=mdy-all}}

U.S. Senate (2005–2019)

File:Neil Gorsuch and Johnny Isakson.jpg in 2017]]

File:Brett Kavanaugh and Johnny Isakson.jpg in 2018]]

=Elections=

== 2004 ==

In early 2003, conservative Democratic U.S. Senator Zell Miller—who had been appointed to fill out the term of the late Republican Senator Paul Coverdell and elected to the post in his own right in 2000—declared his intention not to run for a full term in the Senate in 2004. Isakson immediately entered the race. He faced 8th District U.S. Congressman Mac Collins and businessman Herman Cain in the primary.{{cite web |last1=Pettys |first1=Dick |title=Isakson Wins GOP Primary For Georgia's Senate Seat |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/07/21/isakson-wins-gop-primary-for-georgias-senate-seat/178afedf-ce9f-4444-93bb-ab47df4e0eb3/ |website=washingtonpost.com |publisher=WP Company, LLC. |access-date=22 July 2020}}

It was initially thought Isakson would face a difficult primary since many socially conservative Republicans still felt chagrin at Isakson's declared support for abortion rights in 1990. However, he won the Republican primary with 53%, with Cain a distant second and Collins third, averting the need for a runoff. In the general election, he easily defeated the Democratic candidate, 4th District Congresswoman Denise Majette, by 18 points. Isakson's election marked the first time in Georgia's history that both of the state's U.S. Senate seats had been held by Republicans, as Saxby Chambliss had won the other seat by defeating Nunn's successor, Max Cleland, two years earlier.{{cite web |title=List of United States senators from Georgia |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_senators_from_Georgia |website=Wikipedia.org |access-date=24 July 2020}}{{Circular reference|date=August 2020}}

== 2010 ==

In 2010, Isakson was unopposed in the primary. He won re-election with 58.3% of the vote in 2010, defeating State Commissioner of Labor Mike Thurmond.{{cite web |title=Georgia – Election Results 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/georgia.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=22 July 2020}}

== 2016 ==

Isakson was re-elected to a third term in 2016 with 54.8% of the vote.{{cite news |title=Georgia U.S. Senate Results: Johnny Isakson Wins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/georgia-senate-isakson-barksdale |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 2017 |access-date=22 July 2020}}

=Tenure and legislation=

As a senator, Isakson sponsored or co-sponsored 130 bills, just 8 of which became law.{{cite web|title=Senator Isakson's Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/johnny-isakson/I000055?q={%22sponsorship%22:%22sponsored%22,%22type%22:%22bills%22,%22congress%22:[%22109%22,%22110%22,%22111%22,%22112%22,%22113%22,%22115%22,%22114%22]}|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=July 14, 2017}}

In 2010, Isakson apologized for referring to voters as "the unwashed" in off-hand comments, saying he "didn't mean anything derogatory by it."{{cite news|title=Isakson apologizes for calling voters 'unwashed'|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia_elections_news/2010/06/17/isakson-apologizes-for-calling-voters-%E2%80%98unwashed/|access-date=August 15, 2014|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=June 17, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621054823/http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia_elections_news/2010/06/17/isakson-apologizes-for-calling-voters-%E2%80%98unwashed/|archive-date=June 21, 2010}}

Isakson resigned from the Senate for health reasons on December 31, 2019.{{cite news|url = https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/28/politics/johnny-isakson-retire/|title = Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson to resign at end of year|last1 = Rogers|first1 = Alex|last2 = Bradner|first2 = Eric|last3 = Mattingly|first3 = Phil|date = August 28, 2019|access-date = August 28, 2019|work = CNN}} He is the longest serving Republican senator in the history of Georgia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/colleagues-and-friends-in-georgia-and-nationwide-remember-senator-johnny-isakson/|title=Colleagues and friends in Georgia and nationwide remember Senator Johnny Isakson|last=Wells|first=Myrydd|work=Atlanta Magazine|date=December 19, 2021|accessdate=December 20, 2021}}

=Committee assignments=

Committee on Finance
Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness{{Cite web|url=https://taxnews.ey.com/news/2019-0267-senate-finance-subcommittee-assignments-set|title=Senate Finance subcommittee assignments set|work=Tax News Update|publisher=Ernst & Young|date=January 31, 2019|accessdate=December 20, 2021}}
Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy{{Cite web|url=https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/senate-hearing-focuses-retirement-income|title=Senate Hearing Focuses on Retirement Income|last=Remo|first=Andrew|publisher=National Association of Plan Advisors|date=December 19, 2013|accessdate=December 20, 2021}}
Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety (Chairman){{cite news |title=A smorgasbord of subcommittees |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90842200/a-smorgasbord-of-subcommittees/ |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=February 1, 2015 |page=A6}}
Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Chairman)
Select Committee on Ethics (Chairman)
Committee on Foreign Relations
Subcommittee on African Affairs{{cite news |last1=Malloy |first1=Daniel |title=Isakson says Kony still a priority |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90842663/isakson-says-kony-still-a-priority/ |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=April 19, 2012 |page=A2}}
Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs{{cite web |title=Subcommittees |url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/about/subcommittees/ |website=senate.gov |access-date=November 17, 2019}}

Political positions

When compared to his Republican peers in the Senate, Isakson was close to center of his party; he was neither significantly more conservative nor liberal than his peers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/13/us/senate-health-care-bill-changes.html|title=Republicans Made 4 Key Changes to Their Health Care Bill. Here's Who They Were Trying to Win Over.|last1=Parlapiano|first1=Haeyoun Park, Alicia|date=July 13, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 17, 2017|last2=Sanger-katz|first2=Margot|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

=Abortion=

During his campaign for U.S. senator in 1996, Isakson expressed his support for abortion rights in a campaign advertisement. In 2005, Isakson reportedly identified himself as pro-life with exceptions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.georgiatrend.com/2005/01/01/an-ardent-moderate/|title=An Ardent Moderate|date=January 1, 2005}} In March 2017, Isakson—who was recovering from back surgery—came to the U.S. Capitol in a wheelchair to vote to repeal an Obama administration rule that had made it unlawful for states to bar abortion providers from receiving Title X funding. The Senate vote on the bill was 50–50, and Vice President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking vote that allowed the bill to pass.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/30/politics/johnny-isakson-planned-parenthood/index.html|title=Isakson returns to Senate to cast key vote on Planned Parenthood|first=Ted |last=Barrett|website=CNN|date=March 30, 2017}}

= Agriculture =

In July 2019, Isakson was one of eight senators to introduce the Agricultural Trucking Relief Act, a bill that would alter the definition of an agricultural commodity to include both horticultural and aquacultural products and promote a larger consistency in regulation through both federal and state agencies as part of an attempt to ease regulatory burdens on trucking and the agri-community.{{cite news|url=https://transportationtodaynews.com/news/14431-bipartisan-senate-effort-seeks-to-ease-regulation-of-agricultural-trucking/|title=Bipartisan Senate effort seeks to ease regulation of agricultural trucking|first=Chris|last=Galford|date=July 2, 2019|publisher=transportationtodaynews.com}}

=Gun laws=

In 2017, Isakson said that while he did support concealed carry nationwide, he did not support campus carry and stated that it is "not the appropriate thing to do."{{cite web|last1=Harris|first1=Nate|title=Senator Isakson speaks out against campus carry|url=http://www.redandblack.com/athensnews/senator-isakson-speaks-out-against-campus-carry/article_64cef718-09d9-11e7-a9c3-eb145bc6f471.html|website=The Red and Black|date=March 15, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2017|language=en}}

In February 2018, in response to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Isakson said, "We have to do everything we can within our powers to make sure it never happens again."{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/02/20/sen-johnny-isakson-of-course-planning-to-run-for.html|title=Sen. Johnny Isakson: 'Of course' planning to run for re-election in 2022|last=Saporta|first=Maria |date= February 20, 2018 |access-date= March 8, 2020| work=Business Journal}}

=Healthcare=

Isakson voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted more than 60 times to repeal it.{{cite web|url=https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/health-care|title=Health Care – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220015941/https://www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/health-care|url-status=dead}}{{better source needed|date=March 2020}}

=Immigration=

In 2019, Isakson voted to support President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration regarding border security.{{Cite news|last=Hallerman|first=Tamar|date=14 March 2019|title=Isakson, Perdue vote to uphold Trump's border emergency|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/isakson-perdue-will-vote-uphold-trump-border-emergency/1yn2Do8jQxsDAmFC6DoXNM/|access-date=13 February 2021}}

Personal life

Isakson and his wife, Dianne, were married in 1968, and had three children.{{cite news |last1=Clanton |first1=Nancy |title=5 things to know about Johnny Isakson |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/gen-politics/things-know-about-johnny-isakson/IItgMZb73naoMvIZx2LDOM/ |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=22 July 2020}} His wife is a watercolor artist,{{cite news |last1=McQueen |first1=Tucker |title=White House tree features Georgia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90840641/white-house-tree-features-georgia/ |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=December 19, 2008 |pages=C1}} and served as honorary co-chair for Marietta's Theatre in the Square playhouse in 2007.{{cite news |last1=Bentley |first1=Rosalind |title=How Marietta lost its theater |url=https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/how-marietta-lost-its-theater/ThjAOt6UL6ul8uQr7OBCsI/ |access-date=December 19, 2021 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=March 23, 2012 |language=English}}

=Health and death=

In June 2015, Isakson disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but added that the diagnosis would not affect his 2016 re-election plans.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/10/sen-johnny-isakson-discloses-he-has-parkinsons-disease/ Sen. Johnny Isakson discloses he has Parkinson’s disease (Washington Post article-June 10, 2015)] He continued his campaign and was elected in November 2016 to serve a third six-year term in the Senate. On August 28, 2019, however, Isakson announced that he would resign his Senate seat for health reasons on December 31, 2019.{{Cite web | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/459104-gop-sen-johnny-isakson-to-resign-at-end-of-year?amp |title = GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson to resign at end of year|date = August 28, 2019}}

Isakson died at his home in Atlanta on December 19, 2021, nine days short of his 77th birthday.{{Cite news|last1=Hallerman|first1=Tamar|last2=Malloy|first2=Daniel|title=Johnny Isakson, 76, Georgia politician respected by both sides, dies|language=English|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/johnny-isakson-xxagexx-georgia-politician-respected-by-both-sides/2PTT7C4LVFDU7EBJQ44577B3SA/|access-date=December 19, 2021|date = December 19, 2021|issn=1539-7459}}{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/19/us/politics/johnny-isakson-dead.html|title = Johnny Isakson, Longtime Senator From Georgia, Is Dead at 76|work = The New York Times|date = December 19, 2021|accessdate = December 19, 2021|last = McFadden|first = Robert D.|authorlink = Robert D. McFadden|url-access = subscription}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin | title=1990 Georgia gubernatorial election{{Cite web|url=https://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/1990/gov.htm|title=1990 General Election Results - Governor|website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State|accessdate=December 20, 2021}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Zell Miller

|votes = 766,662

|percentage = 52.89

|change = -17.62

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Johnny Isakson

|votes = 645,625

|percentage = 44.54

|change = +15.05

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Carole Ann Rand

|votes = 37,367

|percentage = 2.58

|change = ±0

}}

{{Election box majority|

|votes = 121,037

|percentage = 8.35

|change =

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 1,449,654

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=2000 general election in Georgia's 6th congressional district{{Cite web|url=https://sos.ga.gov/ELECTIONS/election_results/2000_1107/federal.htm|title=Georgia Election Results - Official Results of the November 7, 2000 General Election|website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State|accessdate=December 20, 2021}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Johnny Isakson (incumbent)

| votes = 256,595

| percentage = 74.75%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Brett DeHart

| votes = 86,666

| percentage = 25.25%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 343,261

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box turnout no change

| percentage =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

| winner = Republican Party (US)

}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=2002 general election in Georgia's 6th congressional district{{cite web |title=Georgia Election Results Official Results of the November 5, 2002 General Election |url=https://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2002_1105/0001700.htm |website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |access-date=27 July 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (US)

| candidate = Johnny Isakson (incumbent)

| votes = 163,209

| percentage = 79.91%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (US)

| candidate = Jeff Weisberger

| votes = 41,043

| percentage = 20.09%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 204,252

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box turnout no change

| percentage =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

| winner = Republican Party (US)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2004 U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Georgia{{cite web|url=http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2004_0720/0000120.htm |title=United States Senator |website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State |access-date=February 1, 2019}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Johnny Isakson

| votes = 346,765

| percentage = 53.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Herman Cain

| votes = 170,464

| percentage = 26.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Mac Collins

| votes = 134,053

| percentage = 20.6%

}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2004 U.S. Senate general election in Georgia{{Cite web | url = http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2004_1102/002.htm| title = United States Senator |website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State | date = December 21, 2005 | access-date = December 3, 2008}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Johnny Isakson

| votes = 1,864,205

| percentage = 57.88%

| change = +19.97%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Denise Majette

| votes = 1,287,695

| percentage = 39.98%

| change = −18.22%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Allen Buckley

| votes = 69,051

| percentage = 2.14%

| change = +2.14%

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 576,510

| percentage = 17.90%

| change =

}}

{{Election box turnout

| votes = 3,220,951

| percentage =

| change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| loser = Democratic Party (United States)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2010 U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Georgia{{cite web | url=http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/election_results/2010_0720/0010101.htm | title=7/20/2010 – United States Senator, Isakson |website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State | access-date=August 21, 2010}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Johnny Isakson (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 558,298

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 558,298

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin

| title = 2010 U.S. Senate general election in Georgia{{Cite web|url=https://sos.ga.gov/elections/election_results/2010_1102/00101.htm|title=11/2/2010 – United States Senator, Isakson|website=sos.ga.gov|publisher=Georgia Secretary of State}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Johnny Isakson (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 1,489,904

| percentage = 58.31%

| change = +0.43%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Michael Thurmond

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 996,516

| percentage = 39.00%

| change = -0.98%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Chuck Donovan

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 68,750

| percentage = 2.69%

| change = +0.55%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Steve Davis (write-in)

| votes = 52

| percentage = 0.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Raymond Beckworth (write-in)

| votes = 24

| percentage = 0.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Brian Russell Brown (write-in)

| votes = 12

| percentage = 0.00%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

| votes = 493,388

| percentage = 19.31%

| change =

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 2,555,258

| percentage = 100.00%

| change =

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2016 U.S. Senate Republican primary election in Georgia{{cite web | url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/60041/171475/en/summary.html | title=Official Results |website=clarityelections.com |access-date=July 20, 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Johnny Isakson (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 447,661

| percentage = 77.50%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Derrick Grayson

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 69,101

| percentage = 11.96%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Mary Kay Bacallao

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 60,898

| percentage = 10.54%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 577,660

| percentage= 100.00%

}}

{{Election box begin

| title=2016 U.S. Senate general election in Georgia{{cite web | url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/GA/63991/184321/en/summary.html | title=General Election November 8, 2016 |website=clarityelections.com |access-date=December 19, 2016}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| candidate = Johnny Isakson (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 2,135,806

| percentage = 54.80%

| change = -3.51%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Jim Barksdale

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 1,599,726

| percentage = 41.04%

| change = +2.04%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| candidate = Allen Buckley

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 162,260

| percentage = 4.16%

| change = +1.47%

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 3,897,792

| percentage = 100.0%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

References

External links

[https://isakson.senate.gov/ Senator Johnny Isakson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227132420/https://www.isakson.senate.gov/ |date=December 27, 2019 }} official U.S. Senate website
[https://johnnyisakson.com/ Johnny Isakson for Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029000858/https://johnnyisakson.com/ |date=October 29, 2016 }}

{{CongLinks | congbio=i000055 | votesmart=1721 | fec=S6GA00119 | congress=johnny-isakson/1608 }}