Brad Johnson (Montana politician)

Brad Johnson (born March 6, 1951) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. A member of the Republican Party, he served as chairman of the Montana Public Service Commission where he left office in January 2023. Johnson is a candidate in the Republican primary in the 2024 United States Senate election in Montana.[1]

Brad Johnson
Member of the Montana Public Service Commission
for the 5th district
In office
January 3, 2015 – January 2, 2023
Preceded byBill Gallagher
19th Secretary of State of Montana
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009
GovernorBrian Schweitzer
Preceded byBob Brown
Succeeded byLinda McCulloch
Personal details
Born (1951-03-06) March 6, 1951
Lake Forest, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLisa
Alma materUniversity of Illinois

Biography

Born in Lake Forest, Illinois, he graduated from the University of Illinois (Class of 1976) before moving to Montana in 1980.[2] He owned an auto parts store and worked for RightNow Technologies in Bozeman. He also served as a district representative for Congressman Ron Marlenee and worked as an agricultural extension agent.

Johnson challenged Democratic Congressman Pat Williams in 1990 and ran for the Republican nomination for United States Senate in 2002 before he was elected Secretary of State of Montana in 2004, defeating Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy. He lost reelection to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Linda McCulloch in 2008.

Johnson withdrew from the race for Public Service Commissioner in 2010 after pleading guilty to driving under the influence in Broadwater County. He subsequently entered an alcohol treatment program.[3] He ran for Secretary of State in 2012, but again lost to McCulloch.

Johnson was elected Public Service Commissioner for District 5 in 2014, defeating Democrat Galen Hollenbaugh, and was chosen to be chairman of the commission by his colleagues.[4] He announced his candidacy for Governor of Montana in the 2016 election, but withdrew from the race in January citing fundraising concerns and commitment to his duties on the Public Service Commission.[5][6]

Electoral history
U.S. Congress for Montana's 1st district, 1990[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Williams (inc.) 100,409 61.13
Republican Brad Johnson 63,837 38.87
U.S. Senate Republican Primary election in Montana, 2002[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Taylor 48,169 60.16
Republican Brad Johnson 14,252 17.80
Republican John McDonald 10,116 12.63
Republican Melvin Hanson 7,536 9.41
Montana Secretary of State Republican Primary Election, 2004[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Johnson 39,479 56.61
Republican Todd O'Hair 15,130 21.70
Republican Bob Werner 15,130 21.70
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2004[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Johnson 219,821 51.03
Democratic Bill Kennedy 210,972 48.97
Montana Secretary of State Republican Primary Election, 2008[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Johnson (inc.) 81,661 100.00
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch 233,717 49.32
Republican Brad Johnson (inc.) 228,412 48.20
Constitution Sieglinde Sharbono 11,722 2.47
Montana Secretary of State Republican Primary Election, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Johnson 65,445 55.05
Republican Scott Aspenlieder 26,974 22.69
Republican Patty L. Lovaas 18,479 15.54
Republican Drew Turiano 7,985 6.72
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2012[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch (inc.) 245,024 51.41
Republican Brad Johnson 214,976 45.10
Libertarian Roger Roots 16,622 3.49
Public Service Commissioner for Montana's 5th district, 2014[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Johnson 44,352 61.11
Democratic Galen Hollenbaugh 28,229 38.89
Public Service Commissioner for Montana's 5th district, 2018[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brad Johnson 60,434 57.81
Democratic Andy Shirtliff 44,103 42.19
Montana Secretary of State Republican Primary Election, 2020[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Christi Jacobsen 57,941 29.42
Republican Scott Sales 49,759 25.27
Republican Brad Johnson 45,526 23.12
Republican Forrest J. Mandeville 20,318 10.32
Republican Bowen Greenwood 14,080 7.15
Republican Kurt Johnson 9,316 4.73

References
  1. Wilson, Sam (18 October 2023). "Former Secretary of State joins GOP primary for Senate seat". The Independent Record. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  2. "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  3. Dennison, Mike (June 2, 2010). "PSC candidate Brad Johnson pleads guilty to DUI, will check into rehab". Missoulian. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  4. "Brad Johnson wins PSC race handily". Daily Inter Lake. Associated Press. November 5, 2014. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  5. "Brad Johnson Announces Candidacy for Governor". Flathead Beacon. Associated Press. September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  6. "Brad Johnson drops out of race for Montana governor". Billings Gazette. Associated Press. January 27, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  7. "Our Campaigns - MT District 1 Race - Nov 06, 1990".
  8. "Our Campaigns - MT US Senate- R Primary Race - Jun 04, 2002".
  9. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State - R Primary Race - Jun 08, 2004".
  10. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State Race - Nov 02, 2004".
  11. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State - R Primary Race - Jun 03, 2008".
  12. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State Race - Nov 04, 2008".
  13. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State- R Primary Race - Jun 05, 2012".
  14. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State Race - Nov 06, 2012".
  15. "Our Campaigns - MT Public Service Commissioner District 5 Race - Nov 04, 2014".
  16. "Our Campaigns - MT Public Service Commissioner District 5 Race - Nov 06, 2018".
  17. "Our Campaigns - MT Secretary of State - R Primary Race - Jun 02, 2020".


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