Cliff Johnson

Cliff Johnson earned a bachelor's degree from the Mississippi College and a law degree from the Columbia University School of Law. His career experience includes working as a director.[1]

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Working People Matter! Too many people in North Mississippi are struggling to make ends meet, and politicians aren't doing enough to make things easier. While wages remain flat, prices for everything from groceries to housing to health care are soaring. To make things worse, the Trump Administration and politicians who support it are focused on giving tax cuts to the super-rich and making sure corporations continue to enjoy record profits. As a civil rights lawyer who has practiced law in Mississippi for 33 years, I have ended debtors' prisons across Mississippi, successfully fought to make sure poor defendants have access to counsel, and consistently stood up for the most vulnerable when they are under attack. I fight bullies!Democracy Matters! The Trump Administration's assault on America's institutions must be stopped. The politicization of our military, assault on our judiciary, and dismantling of government agencies destabilize our country and make us less safe and less secure. Federal employees at places like the VA aren't villains. Our government relies on the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances that has been eroded by those now in power. As a law professor who understands what our Constitution demands, I am committed to the fight for a political system that considers all voices and does not concentrate power in one person or one branch of government. America will remain great only if we address threats to our freedom.Independence Matters! I'm a lifelong Democrat, but I'm dedicated to Mississippians - not to a political party. We have to elect candidates who understand the challenges faced by those who elect them and know how to fight to protect local voters. I'm committed to the idea that we don't have to agree on everything in order to agree on the most important things - giving everyone a fair shot in life, protecting our freedoms, respecting the views of others, and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. I love Mississippi, and I believe we can do better. But that won't happen unless we have leaders we trust to have our backs and move forward united rather than divided. People are tired of the constant fights.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

ECONOMIC POLICY - out-of-control prices and stagnant wages are devastating working Mississippians. People are working harder than ever, but they still can't make ends meet. Groceries, housing, childcare, health care, and utilities, to name a few, leave families with no room to breathe. HEALTH CARE POLICY - more individuals are driven into bankruptcy as a result of health care bills than any other debt. Insurance is unaffordable for too many, and tens of thousands of Mississippians who have insurance through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are about to lose coverage. EDUCATION - high quality local public schools are key to personal success and community economic development. Our schools lack the support they need to thrive.