ElijahPepe/Mike Johnson | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office October 25, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy[a] |
| Leader of the House Republican Conference | |
| Assumed office October 25, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – October 25, 2023 | |
| Leader | Kevin McCarthy |
| Preceded by | Mark Walker |
| Succeeded by | Blake Moore |
| Chair of the Republican Study Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Walker |
| Succeeded by | Jim Banks |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | John Fleming |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
| In office February 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff R. Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Crews |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Michael Johnson January 30, 1972 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Kelly Lary (m. 1999) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Louisiana State University (BS, JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Speaker website |
James Michael Johnson (born January 30, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Leader of the House Republican Conference since October 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the representative for Louisiana's fourth congressional district since 2017.
Johnson studied law at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. In 1998, he began his legal career in private practice while serving as the senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund. He advocated for the criminalization of homosexuality and wrote an amicus brief in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) arguing for the criminalization of sodomy.
Johnson served as a representative from the eighth district in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2015 to 2017. In April 2015, he proposed a religious freedom bill, inciting controversy. Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order enforcing its intent. In 2017, Johnson began serving as a U.S. representative for Louisiana's fourth congressional district. He served as the chair of the Republican Study Committee from 2019 to 2021, followed by vice chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023. Johnson was among several representatives who attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election, forming the constitutional argument that was argued in Texas v. Pennsylvania (2020), and served as a member of former president Donald Trump's legal team during his first and second impeachment trials.
In October 2023, Johnson was elected in a special election to succeed Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives, following his removal that month. As speaker, Johnson negotiated an agreement to resolve a federal budget crisis and an appropriations bill to provide financial assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. He supported a measure to impeach the secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas; in February 2024, Mayorkas was impeached, but the articles of impeachment were dismissed by the Senate in April.
Early life and education (1972–1998)
edit
James Michael Johnson[1] was born on January 30, 1972[2] in Shreveport, Louisiana.[3] He is the eldest of four children[3] to Pat and Jeanne Johnson.[4]
Career
editConstitutional lawyer (1998–2015)
editLouisiana state representative (2015–2017)
editIn January 2015, representative Jeff R. Thompson became a state district court judge, ending his tenure as the representative for the Louisiana House of Representatives's eighth district.[5] Johnson ran unopposed in a special election for Thompson's Louisiana House of Representatives seat,[6] and he began serving his term on February 3.[7] The Louisiana Board of Ethics ruled that he could not retain his contract with the Louisiana Right to Life Educational Committee for legal services, citing state conflict of interest laws.[8] In April, Johnson filed a bill intended to prevent the state government from discriminating against individuals based on their views of marriage. The bill was criticized by Equality Louisiana as discriminatory.[9] Governor Bobby Jindal supported the measure.[10]
U.S. representative (2017–present)
editAttempts to overturn the presidential election (2020–2021)
editAccording to The New York Times, Johnson was the "most important architect of the Electoral College objections" to the results of the 2020 presidential election; approximately three-quarters of lawmakers relied upon arguments stated by Johnson. In his arguments, he offered a claim that posited that election results could be nullified from states in which officials eased restrictions on mail-in and early voting. After his loss in the election, Trump called Johnson about the election. In an interview with the Times, Johnson said that he did not support claims of fraud. In Texas v. Pennsylvania, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton attempted to invalidate Pennsylvania's election results on the basis that Pennsylvania officials violated the Constitution by altering voting regulations that would expand postal voting. Johnson, acting in the capacity of the Republican Study Committee chairman, urged Republican lawmakers to sign an amicus brief supporting Paxton's constitutional argument. He initially received over one hundred co-signers, with an additional twenty lawmakers the following day. Following the January 6 Capitol attack, Johnson lamented that most protesters had not heard of "principled reason".[11]
Speakership election (2023)
editOn October 3, 2023, Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House, was removed from his position, following a challenge to his tenure from far-right representatives.[12] Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who initiated the motion to vacate that removed McCarthy, suggested several representatives could occupy the position, including Johnson.[13] Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio began an effort to garner support to be nominated as speaker; Johnson endorsed Jordan, initially forgoing becoming speaker in a statement on October 13.[14] The House Republican Conference later voted to remove Jordan as their nominee.[15] Following the vote to remove Jordan as the conference's nominee, Johnson—an ally of Jordan—began campaigning for the speakership.[16] By October 24, Johnson had emerged as the conference's nominee,[17] and he was officially nominated after representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota ended his nomination.[18] Johnson was endorsed by former president Donald Trump.[19] On October 25, the House of Representatives convened a vote and elected Johnson as the speaker, receiving 220 votes.[20]
Speakership (2023–present)
editForeign policies
editThe House passed a resolution declaring solidarity with Israel following a Hamas-led attack on the country after Johnson was elected speaker, the first legislation in his tenure.[21] Biden administration officials met with Johnson and other lawmakers about funding Israel in its offensive war against Hamas and funding Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia.[22] President Joe Biden proposed US$106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the Mexico–United States border.[23] Johnson expressed interest in a Ukraine financial assistance bill with border security policies, but held that the House must pass Israel funding first,[24] establishing a contrast with Biden and the Senate.[25] On November 2, the House passed a bill to provide US$14.3 billion to Israel.[26]
Domestic policies and federal budget
editUpon being elected speaker, Johnson faced a deadline to reach an agreement to fund the U.S. government before November 17.[23]
Political positions
editDomestic issues
editForeign policy
editNotes and references
editNotes
- ^ Following McCarthy's removal as speaker on October 3, 2023, Patrick McHenry acted as speaker pro tempore until Johnson's election as speaker on October 25, 2023.
References
- ^ Benton, Joshua (October 28, 2023). "Where Is Mike Johnson's Ironclad Oath?". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Mike Johnson of Louisiana elected House speaker; Alabama members react". Alabama Political Reporter. October 26, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Who is Mike Johnson, the new Republican US House Speaker?". Reuters. October 26, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ "Kelly Renee Lary Weds James Michael Johnson". The Times. Shreveport. May 2, 1999. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Schuler, Marsha (January 8, 2015). "Candidates lining up for B.R. House seat". The Advocate. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Schuler, Marsha (January 12, 2015). "Anti-abortion lawyer to join La. House". The Advocate. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Louisiana House of Representatives 2024, p. 41.
- ^ "Capitol Buzz: Jindal to join Christian group on Israel trip". The Advocate. February 25, 2015.
- ^ Lau, Maya (April 3, 2015). "Bossier legislator files 'marriage and conscience act'". Shreveport Times. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Allman, Kevin (April 13, 2015). "New Orleans Mayor Landrieu and city tourism officials are against the 'religious freedom' bill proposed by state Rep. Mike Johnson". Shreveport Times. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Eder, Steve; Kirkpatrick, David; McIntire, Mike (October 3, 2022). "They Legitimized the Myth of a Stolen Election — and Reaped the Rewards". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 3, 2023). "McCarthy Is Ousted as Speaker, Leaving the House in Chaos". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Diaz, Daniella (October 3, 2023). "McCarthy's out. Now what?". Politico. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Okun, Eli (October 13, 2023). "Jim Jordan gets some surprise competition". Politico. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Guo, Kayla; Jimison, Robert (October 20, 2023). "Chaos and Frustration Rule as Republicans' Bitter Speaker Fight Deepens". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie; Broadwater, Luke (October 22, 2023). "Meet the Republicans Running for Speaker". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Ferris, Sarah; Carney, Jordain; Beaver, Olivia; Adragna, Anthony; Scholtes, Jennifer (October 24, 2023). "'Are we screwed?': Anguished House GOP turns to fourth speaker pick". Politico. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Broadwater, Luke; Edmondson, Catie; Guo, Kayla (October 25, 2023). "G.O.P. Nominates Mike Johnson for Speaker After Spurning Emmer". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Frazier, Kierra (October 25, 2023). "Trump backs Johnson for House speaker". Politico. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 25, 2023). "House Elects Mike Johnson as Speaker, Embracing a Hard-Right Conservative". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Restuccia, Andrew (October 26, 2023). "House Speaker Mike Johnson, Top Lawmakers Meet at White House on Israel Funding". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Peterson, Kristina; Wise, Lindsay (October 26, 2023). "New Speaker Mike Johnson's To-Do List: A Looming Funding Deadline and Israel, Ukraine Aid". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Wise, Lindsay (November 1, 2023). "House Speaker Mike Johnson Wants Israel Aid First, Open to Helping Ukraine". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie; Demirjian, Karoun (October 31, 2023). "Johnson's Israel Aid Bill Sets Stage for a Clash Over Security Assistance". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie (November 2, 2023). "House Passes Aid Bill for Israel but Not for Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
Works cited
edit- "Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives: 1812-2028" (PDF). Louisiana House of Representatives. March 18, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.