Mike Johanns (born June 18, 1950) is an American Republican politician and is the current U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and a former Governor of Nebraska. He was the mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska 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 scrapped plans to run against Democratic Senator Ben Nelson in 2006.
Johanns was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 20, 2005, hours after President Bush's second inauguration. He tendered his resignation as Nebraska Governor on that day.
