Here's what Illinois lawmakers are saying about the new House speaker

Illinois House Republicans are applauding the election of Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as speaker of the House on Wednesday, following weeks of contentious voting and infighting in the GOP.

Johnson, who was a central figure in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, was sworn in Wednesday as the 56th House speaker, replacing Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who was removed from his seat by fellow Republicans.

Illinois Republican Darin LaHood, who represents Peoria in the 16th District, said he was proud to support Johnson as the next speaker.

"Mike is a family man who understands the importance of advancing conservative policies that promote individual liberty, rein in spending, and secure the border, while also conducting needed oversight of the Biden Administration," LaHood said in a statement. "Mike can unite our Conference and I look forward to working with him to deliver results for central and northwestern Illinois."

LaHood voted to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, unlike Johnson.

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Fellow Illinois Republican Mary Miller, who represents the 15th District and like Johnson is a key ally of former President Donald Trump, said she was "proud" to support Johnson.

"Speaker Mike Johnson is a thoughtful and compassionate leader with strong pro-life, pro-family values," Miller said in a news release. "I have had the privilege of marching with Speaker Johnson during the annual March For Life in Washington, and I join him weekly for a private prayer meeting with members where we pray for our country. He used his position as Republican Conference Vice Chair to lead debates on the House Floor in defense of the unborn and parental rights, and I was honored when he joined the Congressional Family Caucus to be an advocate for the nuclear family."

Mike Bost, a Republican who represents Illinois' 12th District, also supported Johnson's bid for speaker.

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"I am in full agreement with President Donald J. Trump and support Mike Johnson to be the next Speaker of the House," Bost wrote on Facebook. "I will proudly cast my vote for him and look forward to getting back to work and delivering results for the people of Southern Illinois."

Bost also voted to challenge the results of the 2020 election.

All 14 Illinois Democrats supported Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York over the course of Republicans' attempt to find a replacement for McCarthy.

Illinois Democrat Eric Sorensen, a gay man who represents parts of Peoria and Rockford in the Illinois 17th District, was critical of Johnson, who in the past has supported bills considered to be anti-LGBTQ.

"The House of Representatives just elected a Speaker who doesn’t believe people like us should have the right to be married," Sorensen said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Neighbors in #IL17 believe otherwise. Bigotry and hate have no place in our nation’s government."

Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, also took issue with the new speaker's LGBTQ stance and how Johnson could "undermine" Social Security and Medicare.

"I’m concerned that his inexperience and extreme views will be destructive to Congress and to the country," she said in a statement.

Reporter Patrick M. Keck of The State Journal-Register contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois Republicans rally behind new House speaker Mike Johnson