Johnson, Douglas J. "Doug, Dougie"
House 1971-72 (District 63); House 1973-76 (District 6B); Senate 1977-2002 (District 6)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/17/1942
Birth Place:
Cook, Minnesota
Birth County:
St. Louis
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
11/7/2022
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Covenant
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Doug, Dougie
City of Residence (when first elected):
Cook
Occupation (when first elected):
High School Guidance Counselor
EDUCATION
Cook High School; Secondary; Graduate
Virginia Junior College; A.A.;
University of Minnesota, Duluth; B.S.;
University of Wisconsin, Superior; M.Ed.; Also Listed as Wisconsin State University
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Municipal Mayor:
Cook, Minnesota (City Mayor);
1965 to 19??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board;
1973 to 2002
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Single (when first elected); Denesse Hoole (married in 1996, while in office)
Children:
Two children: Nicole and Alan
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: economic development, education, natural resources, taxes, consumer protection.
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
He had a "reputation as a shrewd political strategist with a populist flair." (Timberjay obituary, November 9, 2022)
He ran for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for the United States Senate in 1978.
He ran for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for Minnesota Governor in 1998.
He was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Alpha Theta.
He was a member of Cook Covenant Church.
Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975 and MN Legislative Manual, 1975-76.
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/7/2000
Residence:
Tower
Term of Office:
1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
Legislator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Capital Investment
-
Finance (Chair)
-
Finance: Environment and Agriculture Budget Division
-
Jobs, Housing and Community Development
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Elections
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/5/1996
Residence:
Tower
Term of Office:
1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
Retired Educator
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Election Laws
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing and Economic Development
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes (Chair)
-
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax
-
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/5/1996
Residence:
Tower
Term of Office:
1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Election Laws
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing and Economic Development
-
Local and Metropolitan Government
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes (Chair)
-
Taxes: Income and Sales Tax
-
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/3/1992
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor, Cook High School
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Ethics and Campaign Reform
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Economic Development and Housing
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy and Public Utilities
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/3/1992
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Ethics and Campaign Reform
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Economic Development and Housing
-
Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy and Public Utilities
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Tax
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/6/1990
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Energy and Public Utilities
-
Redistricting
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income, Sales, and Economic Development Division
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/4/1986
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Public Utilities and Energy
-
Public Utilities and Energy: Utilities
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax Division
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax Division
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/4/1986
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Guidance Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Public Utilities and Energy
-
Public Utilities and Energy: Deregulated Industries
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/2/1982
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries
-
Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries: Public Utilities
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/2/1982
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Cook, Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor, Cook High School
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Elections and Ethics
-
Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries
-
Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries: Public Utilities
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/4/1980
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented:
Cook, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor, Cook High School
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Consumer Protection
-
Elections and Reapportionment
-
Rules and Administration
-
Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
-
Rules and Administration: Personnel
-
Taxes and Tax Laws (Chair)
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Natural Resources Tax (Chair)
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/2/1976
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Cook, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Insurance
-
Elections
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
-
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales and Property Tax
Leadership Position:
Majority Whip
Body:
Senate
District:
06
Elected:
11/2/1976
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
Counties Represented:
Cook, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Guidance Counselor, Cook High School
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Insurance
-
Elections
-
Taxes and Tax Laws
Leadership Position:
Majority Whip
Body:
House
District:
06B
Elected:
11/5/1974
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/7/1975 to 1/3/1977
Counties Represented:
Cook, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Guidance Counselor
Party:
Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development (Chair)
-
Labor-Management Relations
-
Taxes
Body:
House
District:
06B
Elected:
11/7/1972
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Cook, Lake, St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Guidance Counselor
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Education
-
Environmental Preservation and Natural Resources
-
Local Government
-
Taxes
Elected:
11/3/1970
Residence:
Cook
Term of Office:
1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
St. Louis
Occupation:
High School Guidance Counselor
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Committees:
-
Education
-
Environmental Preservation
-
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
-
Natural Resources
-
Transportation
Articles & Books About
-
Riebe, Angie. "The Range will Miss Him: Longtime State Sen. Doug Johnson Remembered." Mesabi Tribune, November 12, 2022.
-
Olson, Rochelle. "Doug Johnson, 1942-2022: A DFL Giant and Fighter for the Range." Star Tribune, November 11, 2022, p. B1.
-
Helmberger, Marshall. "Longtime lawmaker Doug Johnson dies at 80." The Timberjay, November 9, 2022.
District Files
2000 (06)
2001 (06)
2002 (06)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
Photographs
The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.