Adam Johnson, the Florida man who became one of the most recognizable faces of the January 6 Capitol riot after he was photographed carrying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern, is seeking elected office.
His decision to run, announced on the fifth anniversary of the incident, comes as debates over the meaning and legacy of January 6 continue to develop during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Why It Matters
Johnson’s campaign for the Manatee County Commission reflects broader changes in how some participants in the January 6 riot are reframing the narrative, with a number of former defendants have increasingly embraced their notoriety as a political asset.
That evolution has unfolded alongside actions from the Trump administration. This week, the White House launched a website portraying January 6 defendants as unfairly maligned patriots.
Johnson himself was among those who benefited from a sweeping round of pardons early in Trump’s second term, a move that has helped clear legal obstacles for some former defendants.
What To Know
Johnson, 41, filed paperwork Tuesday to run for the District 6 seat on the Manatee County Commission, a Tampa Bay-area post currently held by Republican Jason Bearden. The race is expected to be competitive, with multiple Republican candidates vying for the seat.
On his campaign website, Johnson casts himself as a conservative frustrated with local leadership, saying he is "tired of watching MAGA principles get ignored at the local level." His platform focuses on local issues such as government spending, traffic congestion, taxes, and development.
"I’m a Conservative. I’m MAGA. And I’m running because Manatee County deserves leadership that actually lives those values," he writes. "For too long, the forgotten conservative has watched county government waste money, cut corrupt deals, and ignore the problems that matter to working families.
"Traffic keeps getting worse. Taxes keep going up. And the insiders keep getting richer. That ends when I’m elected. I’ll expose corruption. I’ll fight for affordability. I’ll demand sustainable growth that works for residents. And I’ll fix our traffic nightmare with real solutions, not more studies."
He also takes direct aim at the incumbent. "Right now, that seat is held by someone who’s failed to deliver conservative results. Failed to stop corruption. Failed to fix traffic. Failed to protect taxpayers," the site reads, referring to Bearden’s tenure.
Who Is Adam Johnson?
Johnson garnered attention during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol when he grabbed a lectern belonging to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and carried it through the building’s halls. A photograph of him smiling as he walked with the lectern quickly spread worldwide.
That same image played a central role in his arrest days later. Federal authorities cited the photograph in charging Johnson with three crimes related to his participation in the events at the Capitol. He later reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.
A judge sentenced Johnson to 75 days in jail, followed by a year of probation, along with fines and restitution. At his 2022 sentencing hearing, Johnson told the court that he was ashamed to have taken part.
In the years since, however, Johnson appears to have turned a corner on that remorse. He now uses the handle @lecternleader on X, formerly Twitter, where he has more than 120,000 followers. The lectern photograph is his profile image, and he describes himself as "the artist formerly known as Via Getty/ Podium Guy."
Any remaining legal consequences for Johnson and more than a thousand others tied to January 6 were erased shortly after President Donald Trump returned to office last year.
In January 2025, the president pardoned some 1,500 people charged or convicted in connection with the riot, including Johnson.
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