Mark grew up on the shores of Maple Lake, near Mentor, and graduated from Fertile-Beltrami High School. After high school, he earned a degree in finance and economics from Bethel University and a J.D. from the University of North Dakota. He went to work as a financial analyst for IBM, and, as time went by, he and Skyler found what they really wanted was to be back home.

He is now a partner with his father in Johnson Concrete Construction, a third-generation family business, and serves a partner in a small law firm. Mark has seen too many of the people he grew up with leave to find opportunities elsewhere, and he worries that unless we work to expand opportunities, his kids might do the same. Since entering politics, Mark has fought hard to preserve the communities in northwestern Minnesota. By working together, Mark believes that Minnesota can build vibrant communities and expand economic opportunities so that they can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Mark now serves Senate District 1, which includes Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.