GetWiki

{{Short description|American politician (1944–2021)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}

factoids

| term_start3 = February 23, 1999| term_end3 = January 3, 2005| predecessor3 = Newt GingrichTom Price (American politician)>Tom Price| state_senate4 = Georgia State| district4 = 21st| term_start4 = January 11, 1993| term_end4 = January 6, 1997William F. EnglishHTTPS://WWW.OURCAMPAIGNS.COM/RACEDETAIL.HTML?RACEID=790268WEBSITE=WWW.OURCAMPAIGNS.COM, WEBSITE=WWW.OURCAMPAIGNS.COM, List of minority leaders of the Georgia House of Representatives>Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives| term_start5 = January 10, 1983| term_end5 = January 11, 1991| predecessor5 = Herbert Jones Jr.| successor5 = Paul HeardGeorgia House of Representativesfrom Cobb County, Georgia>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 Isakson194428}}| birth_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.{{death date and age12194428}}}}| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.Republican Party (United States)>RepublicanDianne Davison|1968}}| children = 3University of Georgia (Bachelor of Business Administration>BBA)| signature = JohnnyIsaksonSignature.jpgUnited States}}United States}}| serviceyears = 1966–1972Staff sergeant>Staff Sergeant| unit = Georgia Air National Guardpos=centerfilename=Senator Isakson pays tribute to retiring Senator Thad Cochran.oggtype=speech|description=Isakson gives farewell remarks for retiring Senator Thad CochranRecorded March 22, 2018}}}}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,NEWS,weblink GEORGIA Johnny Isakson (R), The Washington Post, November 4, 2004, August 29, 2010, who later established an Atlanta real estate firm.NEWS, Atlanta roots lie under real estate's family tree,weblink Atlanta Business Chronicle, 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.WEB,weblink Floor Statement on Immigration Reform Remarks as Delivered on the Senate Floor, April 13, 2005, Johnny Isakson, February 20, 2007, WEB,weblink Johnny Isakson ancestry, January 4, 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160809110222weblink">weblink August 9, 2016, dead, Isakson served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972, leaving service as a staff sergeant.WEB, Veterans in the US Senate 109th Congress, Navy League,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070628064917weblink">weblink June 28, 2007, December 9, 2006, Isakson enrolled at the University of Georgia, where he became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity.WEB, Greeks in the 113th Congress,weblink North-American Interfraternity Conference, September 2, 2013, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140327052229weblink">weblink March 27, 2014, NEWS, Three-term Senator to retire,weblink 20 December 2021, The Record Online, 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.WEB, Johnny Isakson Senate,weblink Johnny Isakson Biography, November 18, 2014, September 9, 2018,weblink dead, {{better source needed|date=March 2020}}

Early political career (1974–1998)

(File:Johnny Isakson 1977.png|thumb|left|Isakson as a state representative in 1977)

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 1984WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA State House 021 Race – Nov 06, 1984, www.ourcampaigns.com, and 1988.WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA State House 021 Post 2 Race – Nov 08, 1988, 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.WEB, Johnny Isakson will seek Senate seat,weblink bizjournals.com, American City Business Journals, 22 July 2020,

1990 gubernatorial election

File:Reagan Contact Sheet C37241 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Isakson greeting President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganIsakson 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.WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA Governor – R Primary Race – Jul 17, 1990, www.ourcampaigns.com, In the general election, he was defeated by Democratic Lieutenant Governor Zell Miller 53%–45%.WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA Governor Race – Nov 06, 1990, 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.NEWS,weblink Lotto Fever in Georgia Governor's Race, Parker, Laura, October 12, 1990, The Washington Post, December 20, 2021,

Georgia Senate

File:Bush Contact Sheet P15017 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Isakson with President George H. W. BushGeorge H. W. BushIn 1992, Isakson was elected to the Georgia Senate.WEB, McKee, Don, DON McKEE: Sen. Johnny Isakson: Tireless warrior for veterans, citizens,weblink mdjonline.com, August 31, 2016, Marietta Daily Journal, 22 July 2020,

1996 U.S. Senate election

{{See also|1996 United States Senate election in Georgia}}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.NEWS,weblink Georgian Makes a Bold Stand on Abortion, Kevin, Sack, The New York Times, 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%).WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA US Senate – R Primary Race – Jul 09, 1996, www.ourcampaigns.com, August 6, 2018, Therefore, per Georgia law, he was forced into a primary runoff election. Millner defeated Isakson in the runoff 53%–47%.WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA US Senate – R Runoff Race – Aug 06, 1996, www.ourcampaigns.com, August 6, 2018, Millner lost the general election to Democrat Max Cleland.WEB, Ga.: Democrats Win Key Senate Battle In Peach State,weblink cnn.com, Cable News Network (CNN), 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.WEB,weblink Official Results of the February 23, 1999 Special Election, Georgia Secretary of State, March 16, 1999, April 28, 2018, February 11, 2022,weblink dead,

2000

Isakson won re-election to his first full term with 74.75% of the vote.WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA District 6 Race – Nov 07, 2000, www.ourcampaigns.com, August 6, 2018,

2002

Isakson won re-election to his second full term with 79.87% of the vote.WEB,weblink Our Campaigns – GA District 6 Race – Nov 05, 2002, www.ourcampaigns.com, August 6, 2018, File:Bush Air Force One.jpg|250px|thumb|right|President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush

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.WEB, Representative Isakson's Legislation,weblink Library of Congress, December 8, 2014, He was a member of the U.S. House Education Committee.WEB, Column: In their own words: Isakson's impact on education,weblink Augustachronicle.com, The Augusta Chronicle, 22 July 2020, In October 2002, Isakson voted in favor of the authorization of force against the country of Iraq.WEB,weblink FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 455, U.S. House, H J RES 114 YEA-AND-NAY, 2002-10-10, mdy-all,

U.S. Senate (2005–2019)

File:Neil Gorsuch and Johnny Isakson.jpg|thumb|right|Isakson with Neil GorsuchNeil GorsuchFile:Brett Kavanaugh and Johnny Isakson.jpg|thumb|right|Isakson with Brett KavanaughBrett Kavanaugh

Elections

2004

{{See also|2004 United States Senate election in Georgia}}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.WEB, Pettys, Dick, Isakson Wins GOP Primary For Georgia's Senate Seat,weblink washingtonpost.com, WP Company, LLC., 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.WEB, List of United States senators from Georgia,weblink Wikipedia.org, 24 July 2020, {{Circular reference|date=August 2020}}

2010

{{See also|2010 United States Senate election in Georgia}}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.WEB, Georgia – Election Results 2010,weblink The New York Times, 22 July 2020,

2016

{{See also|2016 United States Senate election in Georgia}}Isakson was re-elected to a third term in 2016 with 54.8% of the vote.NEWS, Georgia U.S. Senate Results: Johnny Isakson Wins,weblink The New York Times, August 2017, 22 July 2020,

Tenure and legislation

As a senator, Isakson sponsored or co-sponsored 130 bills, just 8 of which became law.WEB, Senator Isakson's Legislation,weblink{%22sponsorship%22:%22sponsored%22,%22type%22:%22bills%22,%22congress%22:[%22109%22,%22110%22,%22111%22,%22112%22,%22113%22,%22115%22,%22114%22]}, Library of Congress, 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."NEWS, Isakson apologizes for calling voters 'unwashed',weblink August 15, 2014, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 17, 2010, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100621054823weblink">weblink June 21, 2010, Isakson resigned from the Senate for health reasons on December 31, 2019.NEWS,weblink Georgia Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson to resign at end of year, Rogers, Alex, Bradner, Eric, Mattingly, Phil, August 28, 2019, August 28, 2019, CNN, He is the longest serving Republican senator in the history of Georgia.WEB,weblink Colleagues and friends in Georgia and nationwide remember Senator Johnny Isakson, Wells, Myrydd, Atlanta (magazine), Atlanta Magazine, December 19, 2021, December 20, 2021,

Committee assignments

• Committee on Finance
  • Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global CompetitivenessWEB,weblink Senate Finance subcommittee assignments set, Tax News Update, Ernst & Young, January 31, 2019, December 20, 2021,
  • Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family PolicyWEB,weblink Senate Hearing Focuses on Retirement Income, Remo, Andrew, National Association of Plan Advisors, December 19, 2013, December 20, 2021,
  • Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  • Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety (Chairman)NEWS, A smorgasbord of subcommittees,weblink December 19, 2021, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 1, 2015, A6,
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs (Chairman)
• Select Committee on Ethics (Chairman)
• Committee on Foreign Relations
  • Subcommittee on African AffairsNEWS, Malloy, Daniel, Isakson says Kony still a priority,weblink December 19, 2021, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 19, 2012, A2,
  • Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific AffairsWEB, Subcommittees,weblink senate.gov, 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.NEWS,weblink Republicans Made 4 Key Changes to Their Health Care Bill. Here's Who They Were Trying to Win Over., Parlapiano, Haeyoun Park, Alicia, July 13, 2017, The New York Times, July 17, 2017, Sanger-katz, Margot, en-US, 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.WEB,weblink An Ardent Moderate, 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.WEB,weblink Isakson returns to Senate to cast key vote on Planned Parenthood, Ted, Barrett, CNN, 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.NEWS,weblink Bipartisan Senate effort seeks to ease regulation of agricultural trucking, Chris, Galford, July 2, 2019, 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."WEB, Harris, Nate, Senator Isakson speaks out against campus carry,weblink The Red and Black, March 15, 2017, October 4, 2017, 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."NEWS,weblink Sen. Johnny Isakson: 'Of course' planning to run for re-election in 2022, Saporta, Maria, February 20, 2018, March 8, 2020, Business Journal,

Healthcare

Isakson voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted more than 60 times to repeal it.WEB,weblink Health Care – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, {{better source needed|date=March 2020}}

Immigration

In 2019, Isakson voted to support President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration regarding border security.NEWS, Hallerman, Tamar, 14 March 2019, Isakson, Perdue vote to uphold Trump's border emergency, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,weblink 13 February 2021,

Personal life

Isakson and his wife, Dianne, were married in 1968, and had three children.NEWS, Clanton, Nancy, 5 things to know about Johnny Isakson,weblink The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 22 July 2020, His wife is a watercolor artist,NEWS, McQueen, Tucker, White House tree features Georgia,weblink December 19, 2021, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 19, 2008, C1, and served as honorary co-chair for Marietta's Theatre in the Square playhouse in 2007.NEWS, Bentley, Rosalind, How Marietta lost its theater,weblink December 19, 2021, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 23, 2012, 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.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.WEB,weblink GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson to resign at end of year, August 28, 2019, Isakson died at his home in Atlanta on December 19, 2021, nine days short of his 77th birthday.NEWS, Hallerman, Tamar, Malloy, Daniel, Johnny Isakson, 76, Georgia politician respected by both sides, dies, English, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,weblink December 19, 2021, December 19, 2021, 1539-7459, NEWS,weblink Johnny Isakson, Longtime Senator From Georgia, Is Dead at 76, The New York Times, December 19, 2021, December 19, 2021, McFadden, Robert D., Robert D. McFadden, subscription,

Electoral history

{{Election box begin | title=1990 Georgia gubernatorial electionWEB,weblink 1990 General Election Results - Governor, sos.ga.gov, Georgia Secretary of State, December 20, 2021, }}{{Election box candidate with party link| }}{{Election box candidate with party link| }}{{Election box candidate with party link| }}{{Election box majority| }}{hide}Election box turnout| {edih}{hide}Election box hold with party link no swing {edih}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change| title=2000 general election in Georgia's 6th congressional districtWEB,weblink Georgia Election Results - Official Results of the November 7, 2000 General Election, sos.ga.gov, Georgia Secretary of State, December 20, 2021, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{hide}Election box turnout no change {edih}{hide}Election box hold with party link without swing {edih}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change| title=2002 general election in Georgia's 6th congressional districtWEB, Georgia Election Results Official Results of the November 5, 2002 General Election,weblink sos.ga.gov, Georgia Secretary of State, 27 July 2020, }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{hide}Election box turnout no change {edih}{hide}Election box hold with party link without swing {edih}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin {{Election box winning candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box majority }}{hide}Election box turnout {edih}{hide}Election box gain with party link {edih}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change }}{{Election box total no change }}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box majority }}{{Election box total }}{hide}Election box hold with party link no swing {edih}{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no changeWEBSITE=CLARITYELECTIONS.COM, 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 end}}{{Election box begin {{Election box winning candidate with party link {{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box candidate with party link }}{{Election box total }}{hide}Election box hold with party link no swing {edih}{{Election box end}}

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

{{commons category}}

• Senator Johnny Isakson {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227132420weblink |date=December 27, 2019 }} official U.S. Senate website
• Johnny Isakson for Senate {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029000858weblink |date=October 29, 2016 }}
• {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Georgia/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Johnny_Isakson_%5BR%5D}}

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

• {{C-SPAN|59135}}

{{USSenGA}}{{SenVACommitteeChairmen}}{{Authority control}}