Research Fellow at the Marquette Law School’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education

For articles by Johnson, see his author page.

See also Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa president John D. Johnson, Sr. and Antler House guitarist John Johnson.

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Content referencing John D. Johnson

Trump Made Big Gains on Wisconsin’s College Campuses

Trump Made Big Gains on Wisconsin’s College Campuses

2024 election data shows the youngest wards shifted strongly towards Republicans.

Dems Need To Win Three Key Senate Races For Control of Wisconsin Government

Dems Need To Win Three Key Senate Races For Control of Wisconsin Government

Races could create pathway for Democratic control of Senate or lock-in Republican control for years.

The State of Politics: Democrats Target Rep. Novak in New District
The State of Politics

Democrats Target Rep. Novak in New District

Remapped Assembly district is 55% Democrat. But incumbent Republican is running hard.

Growing MKE Plan Takes Center Stage at ‘Zoned Out’ Event

Growing MKE Plan Takes Center Stage at ‘Zoned Out’ Event

Panel attempts to unpack racial history of zoning, and how zoning can help build a better Milwaukee.

K-12 Education: Milwaukee’s Students Are Disappearing
K-12 Education

Milwaukee’s Students Are Disappearing

Decline impacting MPS, independent charter and even choice schools.

Most Incumbents Beat Challengers in State Legislature Primaries

Most Incumbents Beat Challengers in State Legislature Primaries

Wisconsin had the most contested Assembly primary races since 2012.

City Hall: Growing MKE Plan Suffers Sudden Growing Pains
City Hall

Growing MKE Plan Suffers Sudden Growing Pains

Much criticism, fears of gentrification at hearing from central city residents.

Assembly Democratic Leader Says Party Can Win Majority

Assembly Democratic Leader Says Party Can Win Majority

Greta Neubauer says Democrats will spend big in fall election for newly-drawn districts.

K-12 Education: The Ups and Downs of Milwaukee’s School Enrollment
K-12 Education

The Ups and Downs of Milwaukee’s School Enrollment

Regular school enrollment barely changed, charter schools down, statistics vary between MPS and DPI.

Murphy’s Law: How to Grow Milwaukee to 1 Million
Murphy’s Law

How to Grow Milwaukee to 1 Million

Mayor Cavalier Johnson is missing the key way to grow the city.

Baldwin Notches Wins for Wisconsin Farmers, Rural Communities, Water Infrastructure, and Tribes in Annual Funding Legislation
Hoping To Avoid Court Drawing Them, GOP Approves New Legislative Maps

Hoping To Avoid Court Drawing Them, GOP Approves New Legislative Maps

But Gov. Tony Evers said he will veto proposal, which leaves Wisconsin Supreme Court in control.

The State of Politics: Republicans Fearful of New District Maps
The State of Politics

Republicans Fearful of New District Maps

Under one proposed map, incumbent Republicans would have to run against each other.

Wisconsin’s Population Grew Last Year Due To Immigration

Wisconsin’s Population Grew Last Year Due To Immigration

Domestic migration also boosted population. Growth rate could accelerate due to COVID-19 fallout.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Will Review ‘Partisan Impact’ Of Proposed Maps

Wisconsin Supreme Court Will Review ‘Partisan Impact’ Of Proposed Maps

How that term is defined could have big implications for the balance of political power in the state for years to come

Declining Household Size Creates ‘Mismatch’ Says New Report

Declining Household Size Creates ‘Mismatch’ Says New Report

More homes needed not for more people, but for smaller household sizes.

Data Wonk: Why That ‘Iowa’ Redistricting Plan Was Unfair
Data Wonk

Why That ‘Iowa’ Redistricting Plan Was Unfair

Wisconsin Republicans' plan did not provide political proportionality.

Residents Concerned I-94 Widening Would Increase Flooding In Nearby Neighborhoods

Residents Concerned I-94 Widening Would Increase Flooding In Nearby Neighborhoods

Valley Park, Merrill Park and other low-lying neighborhoods would see increased runoff.

MKE Housing: Despite Building Boom, Milwaukee Still Needs More 1-Bedroom Apartments
MKE Housing

Despite Building Boom, Milwaukee Still Needs More 1-Bedroom Apartments

Milwaukee's population features a growing number of one-person households.

Transportation: Milwaukee’s First Bus Rapid Transit Line Is Open for Business
Transportation

Milwaukee’s First Bus Rapid Transit Line Is Open for Business

MCTS Connect 1 began rolling through early Sunday morning. Climb aboard to see how the first ride went.

MKE Housing Trends: A Look At Milwaukee Home Sales In First Quarter of 2023
MKE Housing Trends

A Look At Milwaukee Home Sales In First Quarter of 2023

Out-of-state buyers suddenly go quiet as sales volume drops to pre-pandemic levels.

Milwaukee mayor to deliver keynote at Marquette’s 12th annual Real Estate Strategies Conference, May 3
Mayor Johnson’s Plan to Nearly Double Milwaukee’s Population

Mayor Johnson’s Plan to Nearly Double Milwaukee’s Population

Hopes to grow city's population from 577,222 to 1 million. How will he do it?

Predatory Landlords Buying Up Milwaukee Properties

Predatory Landlords Buying Up Milwaukee Properties

Study finds out-of-state landlords now own 23% of rental houses in majority Black wards.

Murphy’s Law: GOP Leader Thrilled to Suppress City Vote
Murphy’s Law

GOP Leader Thrilled to Suppress City Vote

Republican ads targeted Black and Hispanic voters to discourage voting. Did they work?

Outside Investors, Labor Shortage Hamper Milwaukee Affordable Housing Efforts

Outside Investors, Labor Shortage Hamper Milwaukee Affordable Housing Efforts

But groups pushing forward on effort to create 5,000 new homeowners of color.

State’s Assembly Maps More Skewed Than Ever

State’s Assembly Maps More Skewed Than Ever

Wisconsin, the fourth most pro-Republican gerrymandered state, has gotten worse.

Analyzing Milwaukee Area Turnout and Results That Led To Evers’ Win

Analyzing Milwaukee Area Turnout and Results That Led To Evers’ Win

Governor pulled off something no Wisconsin Democrat has accomplished in 60 years.

Republicans Seek Veto-Proof Legislature

Republicans Seek Veto-Proof Legislature

GOP supermajority possible if they flip one senate district, five assembly seats now held by Democrats.

28 Wisconsin Sites Renamed to Remove Indigenous Slur

28 Wisconsin Sites Renamed to Remove Indigenous Slur

US Department of Interior renaming geographic features nationwide.

Donovan Now A Suburban Republican Running For Assembly

Donovan Now A Suburban Republican Running For Assembly

20-year Milwaukee alderman wants to stop city's "chaos" from spreading to suburbs.

State Has Few Competitive Assembly Districts

State Has Few Competitive Assembly Districts

New redistricting approved by high court could leave just 3 of 99 districts with competitive races.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Picks Republican-Drawn Maps

Wisconsin Supreme Court Picks Republican-Drawn Maps

Ruling gives Republicans chance at veto-proof majority, reverses earlier decision to pick Evers' maps.

Data Wonk: State’s Gerrymander Could Last Forever
Data Wonk

State’s Gerrymander Could Last Forever

If state high court’s ‘least change’ rule followed in future, gerrymandering might last for decades.

Mayoral Race Will Likely Have Low Turnout

Mayoral Race Will Likely Have Low Turnout

Historic race, yet many won’t vote, BLOC not endorsing a candidate.

Data Wonk: How Gerrymandered Is New State Map?
Data Wonk

How Gerrymandered Is New State Map?

Let’s measure how the two parties will fare under maps approved by state Supreme Court.

State Supreme Court Hearing Redistricting Case

State Supreme Court Hearing Redistricting Case

Court says it favors few changes to heavily gerrymandered state legislative districts.

Key Takeaways From 2020 Census Data

Key Takeaways From 2020 Census Data

Dane County grew while Milwaukee shrank.

Redistricting conversation continues on virtual “On the Issues,” Feb. 11
Milwaukee Had A Drop in College Voters, Dramatic Shift in South Side Party Preference

Milwaukee Had A Drop in College Voters, Dramatic Shift in South Side Party Preference

Biden and Clinton had dramatically different performances in Milwaukee. See how.

Murphy’s Law: Will Black, Latinx and Young Voters Turn Out?
Murphy’s Law

Will Black, Latinx and Young Voters Turn Out?

Three groups are working hard -- and spending big -- to turn out these voters.

‘On the Issues’: Reporter, common council president to discuss ‘Who owns the house next door’ in virtual conversation, Oct. 21
Murphy’s Law: Milwaukee 6th Most Diverse City in US?
Murphy’s Law

Milwaukee 6th Most Diverse City in US?

More diverse than nearly 600 other cities, says new report. Should we believe it?

Finding City’s Most Integrated Neighborhoods

Finding City’s Most Integrated Neighborhoods

Study shows 25 neighborhoods across Milwaukee are majority-minority like city as a whole.

Plats and Parcels: State Grant Will Support 27th and Wisconsin Demolition
Plats and Parcels

State Grant Will Support 27th and Wisconsin Demolition

Plus: A run down of the week's real estate news.

Eyes on Milwaukee: The Rise of The Bay View Home
Eyes on Milwaukee

The Rise of The Bay View Home

Since Great Recession, houses in neighborhood are among only 6 percent of those in city that have risen in value.

The Educator: How Does Residency Change Affect Teachers?
The Educator

How Does Residency Change Affect Teachers?

24% of MPS teachers now live outside city. Does that matter?

CityLab senior editor to go ‘On the Issues’ to discuss the history of suburbia
Press Release

CityLab senior editor to go ‘On the Issues’ to discuss the history of suburbia

This 90-minute event will feature a moderated discussion with Amanda Kolson Hurley, as well as four suburban mayors.

What Polls Show About the Legislature

What Polls Show About the Legislature

Voters have net positive view of Legislature but negative toward Vos, split on Fitzgerald.