Johnson elected Congressional Progressive Caucus whip

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was elected to serve as whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) during the upcoming 112th Congress.

“I’m ready for the battles ahead,” Johnson said in a news release. “We won’t shy away from a fight and I’m honored to help lead the progressive charge.”

In his role, Johnson will be charged with making sure “progressives” in Congress vote in unison.

“The Progressive Caucus is going to be on the front lines of every political fight looking out for the American people’s interests, and we need the right people in place to get the job done,” U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said in a news release.

“Hank Johnson is a good man, a smart negotiator and a strong progressive voice in Congress, and he’s going to be a tremendous asset,” Grijalva said. “As we work not only to defeat the Republican agenda but to bring fresh ideas to the table and give the voters real choices, Rep. Johnson is going to play a key role in getting support for those fresh ideas. I’m glad to be working with him and very much look forward to the next two years.”

There are 83 members of the CPC. Grijalva and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., were elected to serve as the CPC’s co-chairs.

During the 111th Congress, Johnson served as a regional whip.