Rob Johnson wins Iowa House primary election

The Rev. Rob Johnson on Tuesday won the June 4 Primary in his quest for Iowa House District 34. Longtime State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad retired at the end of his term. For more election results, visit the Iowa Secretary of State.

Johnson released this statement:

“I’m truly humbled and honored by the results of tonight’s election. Thank you to the voters of Iowa House District 34 for trusting me to lead. I’m also forever grateful to our team who knocked on thousands of doors, made hundreds of phone calls, sent out text messages and drove people to the polls. Tonight we take a brief break, but tomorrow our focus turns to November. We believe that Iowa House District 34 will change the future of this state. We believe that if we are able to reach every voter in this district we will keep public money in public schools, we will protect reproductive freedoms, we will fully fund mental health care, and we will bring back balance to our state government. We believe in our community, we believe in the power of our voice and we believe in us!”

Johnson, 36, was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Des Moines in 2006. A resident of the Drake neighborhood, Johnson said he was licensed as a reverend in 2013, by the Rev. Henry I. Thomas of Union Missionary Baptist Church. The father of two-year old, Elias, Johnson graduated from Drake University in 2010, with a degree in political science. He has raised more than $50,000 for community giveaways, including the Rob Johnson Gas Giveaway, turkey giveaways and toy drives. He also works with students in local schools.