What You Need to Know about Mike Johnson, the New Speaker of the House
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Roughly three weeks after Kevin McCarthy’s removal as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives sparked a chaotic search for a replacement, Louisiana Representative Mike Johnson finally assumed the gavel on Wednesday.
The Republican-controlled House voted, 220-208, to make the 51-year-old Johnson—full name James Michael Johnson—the 56th speaker in history. Johnson called the appointment “the honor of a lifetime” in a statement posted to social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. “As Speaker, I will ensure the House delivers results and inspires change for the American people. We will restore trust in this body,” he wrote.
However, Johnson has little time to celebrate his victory. He will now play a key role as Congress tries to avoid a government shutdown on November 18 by agreeing on a new funding bill. With these important negotiations looming, here’s what you need to know about Johnson as he assumes his high-profile title.
Subscribe to our free newsletter to keep a pulse on today‘s political leaders.
Johnson has a law degree from Louisiana State University
Johnson, born January 30, 1972, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Louisiana State University in 1995. Three years later, he earned his juris doctor from the school’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
In addition to his background as a lawyer, Johnson has also served as a professor for Liberty University in the past five years. He began his political career in the Louisiana state legislature in 2015.
Johnson was elected to the House in 2016
Johnson ran for the U.S. House seat representing Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District in 2016 and easily defeated Democratic candidate Marshall Jones with 65 percent of the vote. He assumed office in January 2017 and has since won three additional terms.
According to CNN, Johnson serves on the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee. He is also the vice chairman of the Republican House Conference and holds an assistant leadership role as GOP deputy whip.
He’s a devout Christian
Johnson is a proud evangelical Christian. “I don’t believe there are any coincidences,” he said after Wednesday’s vote. “I believe that God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment in this time. This is my belief.”
His religious views are reflected in his family life and political stances. He and his wife, Kelly, wed in 1999 under a “covenant marriage.” This means that, under Louisiana law, premarital counseling and additional counseling is required before a couple can be granted a divorce. They have four children together.
According to The New York Times, Johnson once called homosexuality “inherently unnatural.” In 2015, he gained prominence when he proposed a Louisiana bill that would have prevented “adverse treatment by the State of any person or entity on the basis of the views they may hold with regard to marriage.” Critics felt it was an attempt to legalize discrimination against married gay couples.
In Congress, Johnson has voted for a national abortion ban. He has an A-plus rating from the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro Life America.
Johnson is a talk radio host and podcaster
Johnson’s controversial 2015 marriage bill failed, but the media attention surrounding it caught the eye of Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council evangelical activist group.
According to Politico, Perkins—a controversial figure who has argued that natural disasters are a form of divine punishment for homosexuality—began inviting Johnson to serve as a guest host on his national radio show, Washington Watch, in 2015. The lawmaker was apparently a good fit, as Johnson has continued to appear on the show in the years since.
Johnson and his wife also started their own podcast called Truth Be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson in 2022. The couple promised to “review current events through the lens of eternal truth.”
He tried to overturn the 2020 election results
Johnson is a ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump and made multiple attempts to swing the results of the 2020 election following Trump’s loss to Joe Biden.
Johnson and 125 other House Republicans signed a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief in a Texas lawsuit arguing that Biden’s victories in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin were invalid because election officials changed voting procedures without first seeking legislative approval.
Then after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Johnson voted against certifying Biden’s victory in two states.
Following his appointment Wednesday, Johnson declined to comment on these efforts. “We’re not talking about any issues today. My position is very well-known,” he told The Washington Post.
He’s the least experienced speaker in 140 years
Johnson path to the speakership was quick—historically so, in fact.
According to Axios, Johnson only served 6.81 years in the House prior to his appointment on Wednesday. That’s one of the shortest tenures ever before assuming control of the House gavel, second only to John G. Carlisle’s 6.75 years prior to the start of his speakership in December 1883.
You Might Also Like
