Gordon M. Johnson is a Democratic member of the New Jersey State Senate, representing the 37th Legislative District since January 11, 2022, and serves as Assistant Majority Leader and Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. The 37th Legislative District encompasses ten municipalities in Bergen County, including Englewood, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Teaneck, and Tenafly.

Born December 16, 1949, in Englewood, New Jersey, Johnson grew up in a family with a nurse mother and a United States Customs Agent father. He attended St. Cecilia High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Science and Criminal Justice from St. Thomas Aquinas College, followed by a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from Seton Hall University. He also graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Johnson served 24 years with the Englewood Police Department, attaining the rank of Patrol Sergeant, and served as president of the State P.B.A. Supervisory Officers Association-Local #216.

From 1999 to 2005, he served with the Bergen County Sheriff's Department as Undersheriff (1999–2001, 2002–2005) and as Sheriff from 2001 to 2002, the first African American to hold countywide office in Bergen County and the first African American Sheriff in the county's history . In the days following September 11, 2001, Sheriff Johnson served as commander of the force assisting the Port Authority Police in securing the George Washington Bridge. He also served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring as a Major in 2000 after deployments to Operation Desert Storm (1990–1991) and Operation Joint Endeavor (1996), and holds decorations including the National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, and Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Political Career

• New Jersey State Senator, District 37 (2022–present)
• Assistant Majority Leader, New Jersey Senate (2022–present)
• Chair, Senate Labor Committee (2024–present)
• Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity (2024–present)
• Member, Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (2022–present)
• Member, Senate Commerce Committee (2022–present)
• New Jersey General Assembly, District 37 (2002–2022)
• Speaker Pro Tempore, General Assembly (2018–2021)
• Deputy Speaker, General Assembly (2014–2018)
• Majority Conference Leader, General Assembly (2012–2013)
• Deputy Conference Leader, General Assembly (2010–2011)
• Englewood City Council (2006–2008)
• Bergen County Sheriff (2001–2002)
• Bergen County Undersheriff (1999–2001, 2002–2005)

Key Policy Areas

• Labor relations and workforce development
• Transportation infrastructure and oversight
• Law enforcement and public safety
• Veterans' affairs and military support
• Economic justice and equal employment opportunity
• Budget and appropriations

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Commanded George Washington Bridge security response following September 11, 2001 attacks 
• Served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the Assembly (2018–2021), the third-highest ranking position in the lower house
• Served as Deputy Speaker (2014–2018) and various conference leadership roles during 20-year Assembly tenure
• Served in U.S. Army Reserve with deployments to Operation Desert Storm and Operation Joint Endeavor, retiring as Major 

Education

• M.A., Administration and Supervision, Seton Hall University 
• B.S., Social Science and Criminal Justice, St. Thomas Aquinas College 
• Diploma, United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 

Personal

• Birth date: December 16, 1949 
• Residence: Englewood, Bergen County, New Jersey