Mike Johanns

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Mike Johanns speaks after being nominated by George W. Bush for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Mike Johanns (born June 18, 1950) is an American Republican politician and is the current Governor of Nebraska. He was the mayor of Lincoln from 1991 to 1998. He was elected governor in 1998 by defeating Democratic opponent Bill Hoppner by a margin of 54% to 46%. He won reelection in 2002 by a landslide, defeating Democrat Stormy Dean by a margin of 69% to 27%.

On December 2, 2004 Johanns was nominated by President George W. Bush to replace outgoing Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman. As a result, he has scrapped plans to run against Democratic Senator Ben Nelson in 2006. If confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture, he will resign and be succeeded as Governor by Lieutenant Governor Dave Heineman.