Ross Johnson (politician)

{{Short description|American politician (1939–2017)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Ross Johnson

|image = Ross Johnson, 1997.jpg

|caption =

|office = Minority Leader of the California Senate

|term = March 16, 1998 – April 27, 2000

|predecessor = Rob Hurtt

|successor = Jim Brulte

|state_senate1 = California

|district1 = 35th

|term1 = May 11, 1995 – November 30, 2004

|preceded1 = Marian Bergeson

|succeeded1 = John B. T. Campbell III

|office2 = Minority Leader of the California Assembly

|term2 = November 10, 1988 – July 17, 1991

|predecessor2 = Pat Nolan

|successor2 = Bill Jones

|office3 = Member of the California State Assembly

|constituency3 = 72nd district (1992–1995)
64th district (1982–1992)
69th district (1978–1982)

|term3 = December 4, 1978 – May 11, 1995

|preceded3 = William E. Dannemeyer

|succeeded3 = Dick Ackerman

|birth_date = {{birth date|1939|9|28}}

|birth_place = North Dakota, US

|death_date = {{death date and age|2017|8|16|1939|9|28}}

|death_place = Sacramento, California, US

|party = Republican

|spouse = Diane Morris (m. 1968)

|children = 2

|education = California State University, Fullerton
Western State College of Law

|branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}

}}

James Ross Johnson (September 28, 1939 – August 16, 2017) was an American politician and lawyer. He was the first person in the California Legislature to become his party's leader in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

From Irvine, California, Johnson went to California State University, Fullerton and Western State College of Law. He practiced law. Johnson served in the California State Assembly from 1978 to 1995 and then served in the California State Senate from 1995 to 2004. Johnson was involved with the Republican Party. From 2007 to 2010, Johnson served as the chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission.[http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/2959 JoinCalifornia.com.-Ross Johnson][http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3596/ross-johnson Votesmart.org.-Ross Johnson]

On August 16, 2017, Johnson died of cancer in Sacramento, California at the age of 77.'Ross Johnson, former GOP leader, campaign finance reformer, dies at 77,' The Sacramento Bee, Dan Smith, August 16, 2017