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Chris A. Johansen (born April 3, 1952) is an American politician from Maine. He served as a Republican in the Maine House of Representatives for Maine's 145th House of Representatives district, which comprises 20 towns in Aroostook County. An outspoken opponent of state-mandated public health measures put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, his wife later died from the disease. He resigned from office on November 19, 2021.

Maine House of Representatives

Johansen was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2016, replacing incumbent Ricky Long, who did not seek re-election. Johansen was re-elected to the Maine House in both 2018 and 2020.

COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, Johansen was an outspoken opponent of state-mandated public health precautions taken in Maine to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In April 2020 he organized two protests in the State Capitol against statewide business shutdowns, acknowledging the virus was public health threat but arguing restrictions should be relaxed in rural areas and calling for a limited reopening of the state's economy. He later joined a group of House lawmakers who refused to wear face masks in the Maine State House despite being required by House leadership to do so. A staged confrontation between these lawmakers and Capitol police drew media attention and lead to the representatives being stripped of their committee assignments for a period of time.

In late July 2021, both Johansen and his wife, Cindy, became ill with COVID-19. Cindy was admitted to the hospital, and died on August 11. A week following her death, Johansen attended a rally in opposition to vaccine mandates for healthcare workers at the Maine State House. He later wrote his wife was reluctant to be vaccinated due to "the conflicting information we have been getting from day one."

On November 19, 2021, Johansen sent a letter to House Speaker Ryan Fecteau announcing his resignation, citing a need to tend to the family farm following his wife's death.

Career and personal life

Johansen is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the Vietnam War. He is retired from a career in law enforcement and lives in Monticello, Maine. Johansen has two children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Rifle Association of America.

Electoral history

References

1. ^ "Chris Johansen". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
2. ^ Harnish, Kathryn (20 August 2021). "Opinion: Who benefits—and who loses—from COVID-19 disinformation?". Maine Beacon. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
3. Chris Johansen's Biography, Vote Smart. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
4. ^ "Maine Lawmaker Who Opposed Coronavirus Restrictions Reportedly Has COVID-19". Maine Public. 24 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
5. ^ Stockley, Leela (23 July 2021). "Maine lawmaker who opposed coronavirus restrictions reportedly has COVID-19". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
6. Thistle, Scott (April 17, 2020). "Maine lawmaker organizes protest of governor's coronavirus restrictions". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
7. Whittle, Patrick (April 20, 2020). "About 200 rally, urging Maine to reopen as virus persists". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024.
8. MacDougall, Alexander (April 30, 2020). "Second protest against coronavirus restrictions will violate governor's order, Aroostook County organizer says". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
9. Writer, Scott ThistleStaff (14 January 2021). "Lawmakers violate Legislature's COVID-19 prevention policies". Press Herald. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
10. Carrigan, Don (24 May 2021). "Seven Maine legislators out of assignments after refusing to wear mask in State House". News Center Maine. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
11. Wlodkowski, Dustin (26 July 2021). "COVID Cases Climb in Maine; Lawmaker Who Mocked the Virus Reportedly Has It". NECN. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
12. Murphy, Edward D. (23 July 2021). "Maine lawmaker who downplayed pandemic's risk contracts COVID-19". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
13. ^ Mistler, Steve (23 August 2021). "GOP lawmaker says wife who died of COVID-19 didn't get vaccine due to 'conflicting information'". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
14. Richards, Zoe (20 August 2021). "Maine Lawmaker Whose Wife Just Died of COVID Joins Anti-Vaxx Rally". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
15. Stockley, Leela (20 August 2021). "Maine lawmaker who reportedly lost wife to COVID attends anti-mandate rally". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
16. Andrews, Caitlin (29 November 2021). "GOP lawmaker cites wife's COVID-19 death in resigning Aroostook County seat". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
17. ^ "Chris A. Johansen". Maine House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
18. ^ "Rep. Chris Johansen". Maine House Republicans. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.

External links

• Profile at Maine House of Representatives
• Chris Johansen at Vote Smart
• Rep. Chris Johansen Weighs in on Current Legislative Session (video) on WAGM. March 2, 2021

• Living people
• Republican Party members of the Maine House of Representatives
• People from Aroostook County, Maine
• 1952 births
• 21st-century members of the Maine Legislature