State Rep. DJ Johnson has officially filed for re-election to the Kentucky House of Representatives, seeking another term to serve the 13th District, which includes a portion of Owensboro-Daviess County.
Johnson, a Republican, said he remains committed to championing conservative principles, practical legislation, and the needs of local families.
“I’m running for re-election because the 13th District deserves a representative who listens, shows up, and delivers results,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, but there is still more work to do to protect our families, grow our economy, and preserve the values that make our community strong.”
Johnson, 67, first won election in 2016. He lost his seat by a single vote in 2018, but after withdrawing a challenge, he ran again and reclaimed the seat in the next cycle. He’s now in his fourth term and chairs the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. He also serves on multiple other committees, including those focused on health, natural resources, and veterans’ issues.
Before entering politics, Johnson served 11 years in the Army and spent nearly two decades managing a family-owned car wash business in Owensboro. That combination of military discipline and small business experience has shaped his decision-making style, he said.
“The military provided me critical thinking and discipline, and small business taught me what it means to go out and earn your way every day,” Johnson said. “When I consider legislation, I start with my core values — fiscal responsibility, limited government, and constitutional integrity. Then I gather information, hear from all sides, and choose the best course of action for our community.”
In Frankfort, Johnson said he has built a reputation for pushing pragmatic solutions. In 2022, he sponsored HB 194, which he said created a pathway for more than 24,000 students in alternative education programs to earn a high school diploma. He said he also worked to expand healthcare access through legislation that broadened where limited X-ray machine operators can work, and recently carried a bill requiring training for planning and zoning officials on how policy decisions impact housing access.
Heading into the 2024 session, Johnson said he plans to focus on identifying and repurposing unused state-owned real estate to make it available to local governments and developers.
“There are state properties sitting vacant that could be used to benefit communities across Kentucky,” he said. “Right now, the process puts all the burden on state agencies. I’m working on legislation to allow local leaders to identify those properties and give the state the chance to justify keeping them — or move forward with putting them up for bid.”
Johnson is also examining ways to support privately run childcare centers, many of which he said are struggling to stay open amid rising costs and regulatory challenges. One concept being considered is updating square footage guidelines to allow centers to serve more children safely and improve financial sustainability.
“We’ve got to find ways to help these centers stay afloat while still protecting children and staff,” Johnson said. “Without them, working parents don’t have options.”
He’s also exploring legislation to strengthen penalties for digital child pornography offenses.
As he looks ahead, Johnson said he welcomes healthy debate but hopes his record speaks for itself: “As long as I’m serving, my focus will remain on lowering the cost of living, defending our shared values, and making sure Kentucky’s state government works for the people — not the other way around.”
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