Craig Johnson

Craig M. Johnson is serving his second term in the State Senate. His victory in a 2007 special election, made him the first Democrat to represent the 7th Senate District in a century.

He serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Investigation and Government Operations, an expansive committee charged with the oversight of the workings of state government.

Senator Johnson, whose district includes the Belmont Park Race Track, also serves as a Member of the Racing, Wagering and Gaming Committee, and as a member of the Health, Education, Local Government, and Insurance committees.

Prior to his election, Craig Johnson served for seven years as a member of the Nassau County Legislature, where he served as the youngest-ever chairman of the Finance Committee, and was part of the team that brought Nassau's finances back from the brink of bankruptcy.

In the State Senate, Johnson, 39, has fought to provide real tax relief to those who needed it the most, control spending and reduce unfunded mandates on local governments and schools, and tackled the burgeoning foreclosure crisis on Long Island.

He also was the first lawmaker in the New York to push for state pension funds to be divested from companies that conduct business with the Iranian government. The State Comptroller has since adopted this socially responsible divestment strategy that will ensure that none of New York's money will go towards funding this extremist regime.

Senator Johnson has also been a tireless advocate for Mainline communities and joined many residents in their opposition to the MTA/ LIRR's controversial Third Track expansion project. He is also the author of the Main Line Community Empowerment Act, which would only allow the project to move forward after two thirds of the host towns and villages approved it.

Senator Johnson is of Counsel with the law firm of Jaspan Schlesinger LLP in Garden City.

A more than 30-year resident of Nassau County, Senator Johnson lives in Port Washington with his wife, Liz, two sons, Benjamin and Samuel, and daughter Lucy. They are congregants of the Port Washington Jewish Center.

The 7th Senate District encompasses the entire Town of North Hempstead. It also includes the communities of Elmont, New Hyde Park, Floral Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Bellerose Village, Bellerose Terrace, and parts of Franklin Square and Hicksville.