Speaker Mike Johnson returns to Louisiana for first time to celebrate daughter's engagement

Greg Hilburn, Shreveport Times
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Congressman Mike Johnson returned to Louisiana on Saturday for the first time since his election as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to attend an engagement event in Baton Rouge for he and wife Kelly's daughter Hannah.

Johnson said Hannah and her fiancé, Cody, grew up together in Bossier Parish, where the family lives in Benton.

"Our daughter Hannah and her new fiancé, Cody, were surrounded by a huge crowd of friends and family to celebrate last night after she accepted his marriage proposal," Johnson posted Sunday on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter. "We couldn’t be happier for these two, who have been close friends since middle school and dating for the past few years. God is good!"

The Republican House speaker still hasn't been back home to Benton in Bossier Parish since he became speaker in a whirlwind turn of events.

"I hope to make my first trip home next weekend," Johnson said in a text to USA Today Network.

Hannah is following in her father's footsteps as a student at LSU Law Center.

Johnson represents Louisiana's 4th Congressional District with Shreveport-Bossier as the population hub.

He was elected speaker Oct. 25, ending three weeks of chaos in a leaderless chamber that had been closed for business since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a small group of rogue GOP members.

"The people's House is back in business," Johnson said after the election.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly (left to right) returned to Louisiana Saturday, Sept. 4, 2023 to celebrate their daughter Hannah's engagement to Cody.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly (left to right) returned to Louisiana Saturday, Sept. 4, 2023 to celebrate their daughter Hannah's engagement to Cody.

Johnson, 51, made history as Louisiana's first speaker and gives the relatively small state the top two positions in the House, with Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Metairie already in place.

"The challenge before us is great, but the time for action is now and I will not let you down," said Johnson, who is the 56th speaker of the House.

Johnson secured unanimous support from Republicans on the floor with a 220-209 vote margin. All 209 Democrats voted for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

More: Mike Johnson makes history as Louisiana's first speaker of the House of Representatives

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. 

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Speaker Mike Johnson returns to Louisiana to for daughter's engagement