Johnny Isakson : Ask Biography

Personal data

Date of birth

December 28, 1944(age 72)

Place of birth

Atlanta, Georgia

Nationality

American

Political party

Republican

Spouse

Dianne Davison

Children

John Isakson
Kevin Isakson
Julie Isakson

Residence

Marietta, Georgia

Alma mater

University of Georgia (B.B.A.)

Occupation

Real Estate Executive

Military service

Service/branch

Air National Guard

Years of service

1966 � 1972

Unit

Georgia

Assumed office

January 3, 2005

Serving with Saxby Chambliss

Preceded by

Zell Miller

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's district

In office

February 23, 1999 - January 3, 2005

Succeeded by

Tom Price

Preceded by

Newt Gingrich

Home | Office Holder | Johnny Isakson

John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson (born December 28, 1944) is the junior United States Senator from Georgia and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he represented in the House.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Isakson served in the Georgia Air National Guard (1966 � 1972) and graduated from the University of Georgia. He opened a real estate branch for Northside Realty and later served 22 years as the company's president. After a failed bid for the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974, he was elected in 1976. He served five terms, including two as minority leader. Isakson was the Republican candidate for governor of Georgia in 1990, but lost. Two years later, he was elected to the Georgia Senate and served two terms. He unsuccessfully ran in the Republican primary in the 1996 U.S. Senate elections.

After 6th District Congressman and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich resigned, Isakson ran in the February 1999 special election to succeed him, winning by a 40-point margin. He ran for the U.S. Senate in November 2004 after conservative Democratic incumbent Zell Miller resigned. With the backing of much of Georgia's Republican establishment, he won both the primary and general elections by large margins. He is serving his second term after re-election to the Senate in 2010.