Cavalier Johnson

Cavalier Johnson
Born	Cavalier "Chevy" Johnson 5 11, 1986
Birthplace	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	45th Mayor of Milwaukee
Known for	First African-American elected mayor of Milwaukee
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA)
Children	3

Cavalier "Chevy" Johnson (born November 5, 1986) is an American politician serving as the 45th mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Johnson first entered public office as a member of the Milwaukee Common Council, representing the city's 2nd district from 2016 to 2022. He rose to become president of the Common Council in April 2020, and when Mayor Tom Barrett resigned in December 2021 to become the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, Johnson assumed the role of acting mayor. Johnson won the 2022 special mayoral election on April 5, 2022, defeating former alderman Bob Donovan and becoming the first African-American to be elected mayor of Milwaukee — the city's second African-American mayor overall, following Marvin Pratt, who had served briefly as acting mayor in 2004. Since taking office, Johnson has focused on issues including public safety, reckless driving, housing, and municipal budgeting, navigating the challenges of leading Wisconsin's largest city during a period of fiscal constraint and evolving federal-local relations.

Early Life

Cavalier Johnson was born on November 5, 1986, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he grew up and has remained throughout his life. Known by the nickname "Chevy," Johnson was raised in the city and developed an early interest in civic engagement and politics. As a young person in Milwaukee, he gained exposure to the political process; a newspaper account noted that Johnson was among students who received an inside look at politics during his formative years.

Johnson's upbringing in Milwaukee — a city marked by significant racial and economic disparities — shaped his perspective on municipal governance and community development. He has spoken about the importance of improving conditions in the neighborhoods where he grew up, particularly on issues such as public safety, economic opportunity, and infrastructure. His roots in the city have been a recurring theme throughout his political career, as he has consistently emphasized his lifelong connection to Milwaukee and its residents.

By the time Johnson entered adulthood, he had committed to pursuing a career in public service. His trajectory from a Milwaukee upbringing to city government reflected a path that was deeply intertwined with the community he would eventually lead as mayor. Urban Milwaukee described his ascent in city politics as remarkable, characterizing it as an "incredible rise" from local alderman to the city's highest executive office.

Education

Cavalier Johnson attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System and one of the largest public universities in the United States. Johnson's time at the university provided him with the academic foundation that he would later bring to his career in municipal government. Details regarding his specific field of study or extracurricular activities during his time at the university are not extensively documented in available sources.

Career

Milwaukee Common Council (2016–2022)

Johnson began his career in elected office in April 2016, when he took a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council representing the city's 2nd district, succeeding Joe Davis. As an alderman, Johnson represented a district on Milwaukee's north side and worked on a range of legislative issues affecting his constituents and the broader city.

During his tenure on the Common Council, Johnson was involved in several notable legislative actions. In March 2018, the Milwaukee Common Council approved a ban on conversion therapy for LGBT individuals, a measure that Johnson supported. The ban prohibited licensed therapists from performing conversion therapy on minors within the city, making Milwaukee one of a growing number of municipalities across the United States to enact such restrictions.

Johnson also focused on improving relationships between Milwaukee and the state government in Madison. In a September 2021 interview, while he was both Common Council president and a mayoral candidate, Johnson discussed his desire to foster better relations with state officials, recognizing the importance of intergovernmental cooperation for addressing the city's needs, including shared revenue and infrastructure funding.

Common Council President (2020–2022)

On April 21, 2020, Johnson was elected president of the Milwaukee Common Council in an 8–7 vote, succeeding Ashanti Hamilton. The close vote reflected the competitive nature of council leadership politics, but Johnson secured the position, which placed him in the line of succession to the mayor's office.

Urban Milwaukee reported on Johnson's election as council president as a significant moment in his political career, noting his rise within city government. At 33 years old at the time of his election as president, Johnson was among the younger leaders to hold the position.

As council president, Johnson presided over meetings of the Common Council and served as a key liaison between aldermanic colleagues and the mayor's office. The role took on additional significance in late 2021 when it became clear that Mayor Tom Barrett would resign to take a diplomatic appointment.

Acting Mayor (December 2021 – April 2022)

On December 22, 2021, Mayor Tom Barrett formally resigned from office to assume his role as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, an appointment made by President Joe Biden. As president of the Common Council, Johnson was constitutionally next in line to assume the powers and duties of the mayor's office. Barrett formalized the transition of authority to Johnson, who became acting mayor of Milwaukee on that date.

Even before officially taking on the acting mayor role, Johnson had begun preparing for the responsibilities of the office. In late December 2021, he unveiled a plan to curb reckless driving in Milwaukee, one of the city's most pressing public safety concerns. The plan included a range of proposals aimed at reducing dangerous driving behaviors that had led to numerous injuries and fatalities on city streets.

Johnson's assumption of the acting mayor position was widely covered by local media. Urban Milwaukee described his trajectory from alderman to council president to acting mayor as an "incredible rise," noting the rapid pace of his ascent within Milwaukee politics. At 35 years old, Johnson became the youngest person to lead Milwaukee's government in decades and the second African-American to serve as the city's mayor, following Marvin Pratt, who had served as acting mayor in 2004 under similar circumstances when Mayor John Norquist resigned.

2022 Mayoral Election

With Barrett's departure, a special election was scheduled to fill the mayoral vacancy. The primary election took place on February 15, 2022, and Johnson emerged as one of the top two candidates, advancing to the general election alongside former alderman Bob Donovan.

On April 5, 2022, Johnson won the special general election decisively, defeating Donovan to become the 45th mayor of Milwaukee. With his victory, Johnson made history as the first African-American to be elected mayor of Milwaukee. While Marvin Pratt had served as acting mayor in 2004, Pratt subsequently lost the 2004 mayoral election to Tom Barrett; Johnson thus became the first Black mayor to win the office through a popular election.

Johnson's win was viewed as a significant milestone for Milwaukee, a city with a substantial African-American population but a history of racial segregation and inequality. His election was reported widely by local and regional media outlets as a historic moment for the city.

Mayor of Milwaukee (2022–present)

As mayor, Johnson has confronted a range of challenges facing Milwaukee, including public safety, housing affordability, infrastructure needs, reckless driving, and the city's fiscal position.

Public Safety and Reckless Driving

Reckless driving has been one of the defining issues of Johnson's tenure. Even before formally becoming acting mayor, Johnson had made addressing dangerous driving a priority. The issue has remained a persistent concern throughout his time in office. In a December 2025 interview with the Marquette Wire, Johnson discussed reckless driving among the key issues affecting the city, including its impact on the area around Marquette University.

Johnson has also addressed broader public safety matters, including the city's relationship with federal immigration enforcement agencies. In January 2026, the mayor spoke publicly about efforts to differentiate Milwaukee Police Department officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, expressing concerns about the potential impact of federal immigration enforcement on public safety and community trust in local law enforcement.

In early 2026, Johnson released a statement calling for federal agents to halt aggressive actions in Minneapolis, asserting the rights of protesters to raise their voices.

Housing

Housing affordability and availability have been another focus of Johnson's administration. In his December 2025 interview with the Marquette Wire, the mayor discussed housing as one of the key issues facing Milwaukee, reflecting the broader national trend of rising housing costs and limited supply in urban areas.

Budgetary and Fiscal Matters

Johnson has been actively engaged in the city's budgeting process. In September 2025, he presented his priorities for the city's 2026 budget, which his office said focused on essential city services and addressing core municipal needs.

In November 2025, Johnson vetoed several proposed amendments to his 2026 budget, exercising his executive authority over the city's fiscal plan. The vetoes came on the deadline day for such actions, reflecting ongoing negotiations and disagreements between the mayor's office and the Common Council over budgetary priorities.

In October 2025, Johnson issued a statement criticizing the federal government's denial of public assistance disaster funds for Milwaukee, highlighting the city's need for federal support in addressing infrastructure damage and disaster recovery.

State and Federal Relations

Throughout his mayoralty, Johnson has navigated the relationship between Milwaukee and both state and federal governments. His interest in improving state-level relations, which he articulated as early as his 2021 mayoral candidacy, has continued to be a theme of his administration. The relationship with the federal government has become particularly significant, with Johnson engaging on matters ranging from disaster relief funding to immigration enforcement policies.

2026 Gubernatorial Race

In September 2025, Johnson ended speculation about a potential gubernatorial campaign of his own by endorsing Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin. The endorsement was reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as putting to rest questions about whether Johnson would seek the state's highest office.

Leadership Philosophy

In a July 2025 profile in the Shepherd Express, nearly four years into his tenure as mayor, Johnson, at age 38, reflected on the demands of the office. He was quoted as saying, "A leader has to stand up and lead even if some residents are not happy," encapsulating an approach to governance that acknowledged the necessity of making difficult decisions.

Personal Life

Cavalier Johnson has lived in Milwaukee throughout his life. He has three children. Johnson is commonly known by the nickname "Chevy." Details about his personal and family life beyond these facts are not extensively documented in publicly available sources. He has maintained a focus on his professional responsibilities and public service career.

Legacy

Cavalier Johnson's election as the 45th mayor of Milwaukee in April 2022 marked a historic moment for the city. As the first African-American to be elected to the office, Johnson's victory was significant in a city that has long grappled with racial segregation and inequality. While Marvin Pratt had served as acting mayor in 2004, Pratt was not elected to the position, making Johnson's electoral win a first for the city.

Johnson's rise from the Common Council to the mayor's office — achieved in a span of roughly six years — was described by Urban Milwaukee as "incredible," reflecting the speed and trajectory of his political career. At the time of his elevation to acting mayor in December 2021, he was 35 years old, and he assumed the office during a period of transition for the city following nearly two decades under Tom Barrett's leadership.

His tenure has been defined by engagement with a range of urban challenges common to major American cities, including public safety, housing, fiscal pressures, and the evolving dynamics of federal-local government relations. Johnson's approach, as he articulated in 2025, has emphasized the willingness to make decisions even in the face of public disagreement.

As of early 2026, Johnson continues to serve as mayor of Milwaukee, having chosen to endorse another candidate for the 2026 gubernatorial race rather than pursue higher office himself.