Johnny Isakson was a Republican who represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate from 2005 to 2019.
- Died: December 19, 2021 (Who else died on December 19?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Atlanta after fighting Parkinson’s disease at the age of 76.
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Political career
Isakson served in the Georgia Air National Guard and worked as a realtor before beginning his political career in the Georgia House of Representatives. He served seven terms there, from 1977 to 1991, and he was minority leader from 1983 on. After a failed run for Georgia governor, Isakson was elected to the state senate, where he served only briefly before being elected to fill Newt Gingrich’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after Gingrich unexpectedly stepped down. Isakson was reelected twice before his successful run for U.S. Senate in 2004. During his two and a half terms in the Senate, he served on committees including Finance and Veterans’ Affairs, and he became known for his moderate views and his work toward bipartisan cooperation. Isakson resigned from his Senate seat in 2019, midway through his third term, citing health concerns.
Notable quote
“I’m big on bipartisanship. Whether you’re Black or white, Republican or Democrat, whatever it might be, find a way to find common ground. Give it a chance to work. Bipartisanship [is] a state of being.” —as quoted by the New York Times
Tributes to Johnny Isakson
Full obituary: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
