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Bernard Johnson

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Bernard Johnson
Image of Bernard Johnson
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Associate

Lon Morris College

Bachelor's

McMurry University

Graduate

Abilene Christian University

Personal
Birthplace
Houston, Texas
Religion
Orthodox Christian
Profession
Educator
Contact

Bernard Johnson (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 19th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bernard Johnson is from Houston, Texas. Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in religion and political science from McMurry University and a master's in education with a certificate in conflict resolution from Abilene Christian University. His career experience includes working in the food service industry as a corporate trainer and manager and in the healthcare and healthcare insurance sectors. As of 2024, Johnson worked in the field of public education.[1][2]

Elections

2024

See also: Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2024

Texas' 19th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Nathan Lewis and Bernard Johnson in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 19 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jodey Arrington
Jodey Arrington (R)
 
80.7
 
214,950
Image of Nathan Lewis
Nathan Lewis (Independent) Candidate Connection
 
10.3
 
27,461
Image of Bernard Johnson
Bernard Johnson (L) Candidate Connection
 
9.0
 
23,964

Total votes: 266,375
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19

Incumbent Jodey Arrington defeated Chance Ferguson, Vance Boyd, and Ryan Zink in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jodey Arrington
Jodey Arrington
 
83.5
 
70,705
Image of Chance Ferguson
Chance Ferguson
 
7.5
 
6,316
Image of Vance Boyd
Vance Boyd
 
6.0
 
5,116
Image of Ryan Zink
Ryan Zink Candidate Connection
 
3.1
 
2,586

Total votes: 84,723
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 19

Bernard Johnson advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 19 on March 23, 2024.

Candidate
Image of Bernard Johnson
Bernard Johnson (L) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Johnson in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Bernard Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

My name is Bernard Johnson, and I have been a resident of this region for a long time. I have received my education locally and have strong ties to the community. I am dedicated to fostering relationships and facilitating meaningful engagement by organizing town hall meetings to address the concerns of constituents. My objective is to create a platform for community members to express their opinions and needs, in order to promote better understanding and support.
  • First and foremost, I want voters to understand that their voices will carry weight in Washington DC if I am elected. As a candidate not affiliated with either major political party, constituents can trust that I share their dissatisfaction with politicians imposing their agendas on the public. With a focus on serving the community and the country, my goal is to restore a true representative government and protect individual rights through new laws. I recognize the diverse range of political perspectives within our district and nation, and believe that as a Libertarian candidate, I can bring together different factions to work towards the common goal of ensuring the future prosperity of our nation.
  • Voters should understand that the United States Constitution upholds the principle of individual autonomy for adult citizens, providing them with the inherent right to select their preferred form of governance. However, it is important to recognize that over time, many constitutional rights have been transferred from the people to government officials. As a candidate, my goal is to combat voter apathy by promoting community engagement. Through coming together to discuss and address each other's concerns and needs, individuals are more likely to find common ground in their experiences. By working together towards a common goal, we can strive to achieve positive outcomes for everyone.
  • The current political climate is marked by differing opinions and ongoing disagreements, a pattern that has been consistent for some time. The foundation of our nation is not in the politicians themselves, but in the collective values and honesty of its people. Regrettably, there are some politicians who prioritize their own interests over the well-being of their constituents, resulting in the marginalization of certain voices in our society. As a representative, my focus is on addressing the needs and issues of all individuals, particularly those from minority groups. I am dedicated to making decisions independently, without being swayed or controlled by political elites.
1. Congressional Term limits: House Members serve a maximum of five two-year terms, and Senate Members limited to a maximum of two six-year terms.

2. Advocate for equal rights.

3. Enhance accessibility to mental health services.

4. Evaluate the efficacy of CAFTA-DR: Efforts should be made to renegotiate with the objective of minimizing human trafficking and illegal entry.

5. Reconsider marijuana classification.

6. Government expenditures should be reduced, and the provision of financial aid to corporations should cease.

7. Fostering entrepreneurship: Bills should be introduced to actively support and encourage individual entrepreneurship, while identifying and removing obstacles that hinder small business ownership.
I believe it is important for elected officials to demonstrate humility, integrity, and empathy towards the constituents they serve.
The primary duty of elected officials is to effectively address and prioritize the needs and concerns of the individuals they represent.
One of the significant historical events that occurred during my childhood took place when I was in the fourth grade, and it was the Challenger incident.
After graduating from high school, I started my career in the hospitality industry as a busboy at a popular food establishment. Over the course of six years, I steadily progressed through various roles, transitioning from busboy to kitchen staff, server, bartender, and eventually to a position where I trained managers.
The Bible is a significant piece of literature that chronicles humanity's relationship with the Divine throughout history, making it my favorite book.
The United States House of Representatives is meant to serve as an institution that represents the will of the people by allowing them to make decisions through their elected representatives. However, it is frequently noted that elected officials tend to prioritize loyalty to their political party or personal interests over the needs of their constituents. As a result, it is crucial for voters to meticulously choose, vote for, and endorse candidates who prioritize addressing the concerns of the public to the best of their abilities.
I believe that having prior experience in politics or government is not necessary to be an effective representative. The nation would benefit from individuals with innovative ideas entering public service roles. However, the absence of term limits has led to a situation where long-standing career politicians with outdated ideas remain in office.
I believe that one of the main challenges facing the United States is the potential decline in our workforce's readiness to adapt to rapidly evolving technology. This could lead to a larger portion of our population lacking the necessary skills, potentially resulting in an increased need to outsource jobs to other countries in order to remain competitive.
A two-year term for representatives enables them to dedicate their focus on addressing the needs and priorities of their constituents. Additionally, in the event of not being re-elected, it provides the former representative with the opportunity to personally witness the impact of the legislation they helped shape.
House Members should be restrained to a maximum of five two-year terms, and Senate Members should be limited to a maximum of two six-year terms.
As I reflect on the past twenty-five years, I have found it challenging to identify any individuals in positions of leadership whom I would aspire to emulate. The actions witnessed in the realm of politics do not align with my understanding of the principles upheld by the founding fathers of our federal constitutional republic.
As a devoted public school educator, I have been inspired by the personal experiences shared by my students and their families, which have motivated me to pursue a position in Congress.
I'm from the Government and I'm here to help.
Effective negotiation and collaboration are critical skills when engaging in the policy development process. In 2023, I traveled to Austin to advocate for a bill that proposed granting temporary teaching certificates to former instructors at the Community College of the Air Force. Despite the bill being sponsored by a member of the Democratic party, I acknowledged the potential benefits it could provide to military personnel transitioning to civilian life and communities in Texas.

I actively engaged with both my State Representative and State Senator, holding meetings with their staff to discuss the advantages of the bill for their respective districts. With the endorsement of a key Republican member of the Texas Senate, the bill successfully navigated through both chambers of congress and was ultimately enacted into law by the governor.

This experience underscores the significance of bipartisan collaboration in achieving favorable outcomes for constituents. By transcending party lines as a Libertarian and advocating for a bill introduced by an opposing party, I was able to secure its success and underscore the importance of teamwork in the policy-making arena.
Instead of focusing on extracting funds from the public to support government initiatives that are not meeting expectations, it is recommended that House members prioritize identifying opportunities to lower taxes. This is the approach that I intend to pursue.
It is essential that members of the US House of Representatives avoid participating in retaliatory investigations that are often based on party loyalties. These actions are inappropriate uses of taxpayer money and hinder progress.
I would like to serve on the following committees:

1. Education and the Workforce
2. Foreign Affairs
3. Homeland Security
4. Oversight and Accountability

5. Small Business
Government expenditure should be reduced, and the provision of financial aid to corporations should cease in order to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and eliminate corporate welfare. Also, bills should be introduced to actively support and encourage individual entrepreneurship, while simultaneously identifying and removing obstacles that hinder small business ownership.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Johnson’s campaign website stated the following:

Policy Proposals:

1. Term limits: It is proposed that House Members should be restrained to a maximum of five two-year terms, and Senate Members should be limited to a maximum of two six-year terms.

2. Advocate for equal rights: The promotion and protection of equal rights for all citizens should be actively pursued.

3. Enhance accessibility to mental health services: Legislation should be enacted to ensure convenient access to mental health providers, thereby enhancing accessibility to mental health services.

4. Evaluate the efficacy of CAFTA-DR: The effectiveness of CAFTA-DR should be thoroughly evaluated, and efforts should be made to renegotiate with the objective of minimizing human trafficking and illegal entry.

5. Reconsider marijuana classification: A reevaluation of the categorization of marijuana under Schedule I should be undertaken.

6. Fiscal responsibility and corporate welfare: Government expenditure should be reduced, and the provision of financial aid to corporations should cease in order to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and eliminate corporate welfare.

7. Foster entrepreneurship: Bills should be introduced to actively support and encourage individual entrepreneurship, while simultaneously identifying and removing obstacles that hinder small business ownership.[3]

—Bernard Johnson’s campaign website (2024)[4]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Bernard Johnson campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* U.S. House Texas District 19Lost general$6,340 $6,406
Grand total$6,340 $6,406
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Bernard Johnson 4 Congress, "About Me," accessed March 2, 2024
  2. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 20, 2024
  3. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  4. Bernard Johnson 4 Congress, “The Issues,” accessed March 2, 2024


Senators
Representatives
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Al Green (D)
District 10
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District 18
Vacant
District 19
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Chip Roy (R)
District 22
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