Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson is an American politician and attorney serving as the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since October 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2017. Johnson previously served as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference and is a prominent figure within the House Republican Conference's conservative wing.

Early life and education

Mike Johnson was born on January 30, 1972, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was raised in the nearby city of Benton. He is the son of Jean Johnson, a Shreveport Fire Department firefighter who died in the line of duty in 1984. Johnson attended Captain Shreve High School before enrolling at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and later a Juris Doctor from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he was a member of the LSU Law Review.

Political career

Before his election to Congress, Johnson built a career as a constitutional law attorney, often litigating cases for conservative Christian causes. He served as a legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom and was a frequent guest and commentator on the Christian Broadcasting Network. Johnson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in a 2015 special election, representing District 8. In 2016, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, succeeding John Fleming in Louisiana's 4th congressional district. He quickly joined the Republican Study Committee and the House Judiciary Committee, where he became a vocal defender of President Donald Trump during the first impeachment of Donald Trump. Johnson served on the House Armed Services Committee and was elected by his colleagues as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference in 2021.

Tenure as Speaker of the House

Following the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy in October 2023, Johnson emerged as the Republican conference's nominee for Speaker of the House after several other candidates, including Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, failed to secure enough votes. He was elected Speaker on October 25, 2023, with unanimous support from the House Republican Conference, becoming the least experienced lawmaker to hold the office in over a century. His tenure has been defined by navigating a narrow House majority, managing government funding deadlines to avert a shutdown, and leading the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. A key early test was his role in brokering a bipartisan deal to pass the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization.

Political positions

Johnson is a staunch social conservative and an ally of the Christian right. He has consistently opposed abortion rights, receiving high ratings from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and the National Right to Life Committee. He was a leading architect of the legal argument for states to decertify 2020 presidential election results in several swing states and voted against certifying the Electoral College results from Arizona and Pennsylvania. On economic policy, he supports the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and has advocated for a balanced budget amendment. In foreign policy, he is a strong supporter of Israel and has taken a hardline stance against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Personal life

Johnson is married to Kelly Johnson, and they have four children. The family resides in Benton and are active members of the First Baptist Church of Bossier City. He has authored a book on foundational American principles and is known for his close relationship with prominent evangelical leaders, including Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. Prior to his political career, Johnson and his wife operated a small business providing media and consulting services. Category:1972 births Category:Speakers of the United States House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana