Björn Johnson
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Björn Johnson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Iowa House of Representatives to represent District 4. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Björn Johnson was born in Storm Lake, Iowa. He earned an undergraduate degree in May 2007 after studying at Iowa State University and the University of Newcastle in Australia. Johnson's professional experience includes working in sales, territory management, and business development.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Iowa House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Iowa House of Representatives District 4
Incumbent Skyler Wheeler defeated Björn Johnson in the general election for Iowa House of Representatives District 4 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Skyler Wheeler (R) | 81.9 | 13,149 |
 | Björn Johnson (D)  | 17.9 | 2,870 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 43 | ||
| Total votes: 16,062 | |||
| = 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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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 4
Björn Johnson advanced from the Democratic primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 4 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Björn Johnson | 99.3 | 572 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 576 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 4
Incumbent Skyler Wheeler advanced from the Republican primary for Iowa House of Representatives District 4 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Skyler Wheeler | 97.7 | 6,479 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.3 | 154 | ||
| Total votes: 6,633 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Björn Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. 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.
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I was born and raised just outside Albert City, IA on a turkey farm and we had your typical crops as well. I went to Iowa State University and graduated in 2007 with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. From there, I moved to San Jose, CA to work for JELD-WEN Windows & Doors as a sales representative. In 2010, my wife (girlfriend at the time) Britney and I were able to transfer to the Twin Cities. In 2015 we got to transfer one last time to the Hawarden/Ireton area. Britney grew up in and around Ireton and Hawarden and has a very large family which was the major reason for moving here; they are an amazing support network. In 2019, I worked for a crane services company in business development and then in March 2020 I got the opportunity to work remotely for a startup tech company based in Oakland, CA. Britney and I love raising our 2 kids here; District 4 especially, and all the people here are amazing. I'm running because I believe that everyone is ready for responsible representation. Someone interested in hearing from all in District 4, not only those who share my views. I believe if we view politics as a war with our neighbors, we've veered dangerously far off the path of functioning democracy. Disagreements are healthy, and even more-so with healthy, respectful discussion. I will bring my honest, genuine, caring, open, empathetic, & optimistic values to District 4 and I'm focusing on Equality, Education, & environment.
- The main theme that runs through my entire campaign, who I am as a person, and how I want to represent District 4 is Respect. Everyone deserves their own opinions, rights, freedoms - and respect. Society and Politics have almost entirely lost this indispensable thing...I'm here to bring respect back.
- I want to make Education more affordable, accessible, and for teachers, their support staffs, and all schools' faculty are paid fairly for what they contribute to society. They're essential.
- The environment - from huge world issues like climate change because yes - per all credible experts on this planet - climate change is real...but also at the local level because something like recycling which should be extremely easy and accessible; isn't.
I care about equality and respect for all. I'm concerned about what recent cuts to education are doing, will continue doing if not reversed, harming the educators trying to prepare our youth for the world and just as importantly impacting students. Another issue for me regarding equality is the Equal Rights Amendment, it's in-fathomable to me that something as simple as women being treated the same as men (and that SHOULD apply to all people regardless of race, color, ethnicity, orientation, etc.) isn't already approved and done. I don't believe making abortion illegal will stop abortion. It only harms vulnerable women who are typically in poverty. Abortion is a political distraction which hurts women's rights and doesn't solve the actual issue. The issue starts with an unwanted pregnancy; so how do we reduce unwanted pregnancies? Improved/expanded sex education, open/honest conversations that young people are able to handle, also improve/expand access to all types of contraception, family planning services, & sweeping improvements to the foster care system. I also want to reverse the privatization of medicaid which is failing the constituents in my district. It has made everything worse for those who need it most, less appointment availability/longer drives/longer wait times/not cheaper/more paperwork/less coverage - how in any sense is this better for Iowans? It isn't. I want to improve net metering legislation to promote at-home alternative energy production.
I look up to my mom, my older brother, and my wife. I don't plan to follow anyone's example necessarily as this life is mine and I will forge my own path...however, I draw inspiration from people like Warren Buffet & Bill Gates for how successful they are in business, relationships, and also that they are giving back the majority of their vast wealth to philanthropy to help our world and our country. I know many people believe there are conspiracies happening and anyone with that much money can't be trusted; but I don't believe that. At least not entirely. I believe that a select few understand they were well-, if not over-, compensated for their contributions, and are giving back with the intent of improving the world for everyone. Specifically focusing on providing the basic essentials for life to everyone we share this planet with.
That's a great question, but at the moment can't think of anything.
Honesty, empathy, perseverance, humbleness, integrity, the ability to reflect on themselves and their choices regarding how they affect other people
I am respectful, empathetic, and a great listener who enjoys discussing people's views.
Reaching out to and listening to every person in the district that wants to share their opinion about how we can continue improving on our already amazing district. Also encouraging those not involved in local politics to become more involved or at least aware of what's happening in their community.
That the people in our district feel empowered to speak up and make sure we appreciate the amazing community we have here; especially those cultures and people different from ourselves.
9/11. I was 17 years old in my senior year of high school. I don't think anyone went to class that day; at least not in the morning. To share in the shock and horror of that with the entire country was such a tragic and historic moment; we never forget the heroes that day around the country who ran into danger, rather than from it. 9/11 really helped open my eyes to the sacrifice our public rescuers and protectors put into keeping us all safe. Never forget...
Working at the local gas station in my small town. I worked there for 2-3 years in high school to buy my first car (2WD Chevy S-10).
Essentialism by Greg McKeown. In our incredibly fast-paced and ever more information-producing world, this book provides amazing relief and perspective on the best way to conduct your life. Focus purely on the essential, anything that isn't amazing or awesome isn't worth it. If you don't plan your life, someone else will plan it for you. I would recommend anyone and everyone read this book.
She Got the Best of Me by Luke Combs
Always looking and planning for the next thing rather than purposefully and intently slowing down. Life flies by and I continue to work on slowing down and living in and for the moment. On the plus side, my kids are certainly helping me with that.
The counter balance between one representing us at the federal level and the other representing at the state level yet both working together.
Experience is obviously beneficial in any endeavor one takes in life, however I believe our current president proves it is not required to win the highest office in the nation.
Improving education, improving infrastructure (information/data as well as physical - roads/bridges), reversing the privatization of medicaid, increasing incentives for use of or homeowner production of alternative energy sources.
I believe the ideal relationship should be one of partnership, working in tandem to take care of the needs of the people of Iowa. Both locally and in Washington D.C.
Absolutely and regardless of party. One can never know too many people because the more people one meets, the more knowledge gained. It increases our knowledge and our empathy which improves our most important feature - emotional intelligence.
Clean cut, straightforward, equal and fair. Not partisan gerry-mandering.
Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Environmental Protection, Ethics, Labor, Natural Resources, Transportation, Veterans Affairs
I would be open to that possibility should it present itself.
One person I met had been released from prison in the last handful of years, doing great at their job, happy with life, felt pride in owning up to having done a crime, serving out the sentence, and being brought back into society. It was a moving conversation to realize how little attention I'd paid to people getting their rights back after being incarcerated. Once someone completes their time, they should have to do nothing to get their voting rights back. Their rights should be automatically restored once they're outside that fence.
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.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 30, 2020
Current members of the Iowa House of Representatives
Leadership
Majority Leader:Bobby Kaufmann
Representatives
District 1
J.D. Scholten (D)
District 2
Robert Henderson (R)
District 3
Thomas Jeneary (R)
District 4
Skyler Wheeler (R)
District 5
Zach Dieken (R)
District 6
Megan Jones (R)
District 7
Vacant
District 8
Ann Meyer (R)
District 9
Henry Stone (R)
District 10
John Wills (R)
District 11
Craig Williams (R)
District 12
Steven Holt (R)
District 13
Travis Sitzmann (R)
District 14
Jacob Bossman (R)
District 15
Matt Windschitl (R)
District 16
David Sieck (R)
District 17
Devon Wood (R)
District 18
Tom Moore (R)
District 19
Brent Siegrist (R)
District 20
Josh Turek (D)
District 21
Brooke Boden (R)
District 22
Samantha Fett (R)
District 23
Ray Sorensen (R)
District 24
Sam Wengryn (R)
District 25
Hans Wilz (R)
District 26
Austin Harris (R)
District 27
Kenan Judge (D)
District 28
David Young (R)
District 29
Brian Meyer (D)
District 30
Megan Srinivas (D)
District 31
Mary Madison (D)
District 32
Jennifer Konfrst (D)
District 33
Ruth Gaines (D)
District 34
Rob Johnson (D)
District 35
Sean Bagniewski (D)
District 36
Austin Baeth (D)
District 37
Barb McCulla (R)
District 38
Jon Dunwell (R)
District 39
Rick Olson (D)
District 40
Bill Gustoff (R)
District 41
Ryan Weldon (R)
District 42
Heather Matson (D)
District 43
Eddie Andrews (R)
District 44
Larry McBurney (D)
District 45
Brian Lohse (R)
District 46
Dan Gehlbach (R)
District 47
Carter Nordman (R)
District 48
Chad Behn (R)
District 49
District 50
Ross Wilburn (D)
District 51
Brett Barker (R)
District 52
David Blom (R)
District 53
Dean Fisher (R)
District 54
Joshua Meggers (R)
District 55
Shannon Latham (R)
District 56
Mark Thompson (R)
District 57
Pat Grassley (R)
District 58
Charley Thomson (R)
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
Jerome Amos (D)
District 63
Michael Bergan (R)
District 64
Jason Gearhart (R)
District 65
Shannon Lundgren (R)
District 66
Steven Bradley (R)
District 67
Craig Johnson (R)
District 68
Chad Ingels (R)
District 69
Tom Determann (R)
District 70
Norlin Mommsen (R)
District 71
Lindsay James (D)
District 72
Jennifer Smith (R)
District 73
Elizabeth Wilson (D)
District 74
Eric Gjerde (D)
District 75
Bob Kressig (D)
District 76
Derek Wulf (R)
District 77
Jeff Cooling (D)
District 78
Angel Ramirez (D)
District 79
Tracy Ehlert (D)
District 80
Aime Wichtendahl (D)
District 81
Daniel Gosa (D)
District 82
Bobby Kaufmann (R)
District 83
Cindy Golding (R)
District 84
Thomas Gerhold (R)
District 85
Amy Nielsen (D)
District 86
David Jacoby (D)
District 87
Jeff Shipley (R)
District 88
Helena Hayes (R)
District 89
Elinor Levin (D)
District 90
Adam Zabner (D)
District 91
Judd Lawler (R)
District 92
Heather Hora (R)
District 93
Gary Mohr (R)
District 94
Mike Vondran (R)
District 95
Taylor Collins (R)
District 96
Mark Cisneros (R)
District 97
Ken Croken (D)
District 98
Monica Kurth (D)
District 99
Matthew Rinker (R)
District 100
Blaine Watkins (R)
Republican Party (66)
Democratic Party (33)
Vacancies (1)
