Pro-life Congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana has secured the position of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding Kevin McCarthy, with a final vote tally of 220-209. The selection of Johnson followed a week in which Republicans failed to coalesce around other prominent candidates, such as Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
Mike Johnson’s ascent to the role of Speaker has been met with praise, particularly from Terry Schilling of the D.C.-based American Principles Project, who hails him as “a stalwart conservative and pro-family champion” throughout his tenure in the House. Johnson clinched the designation of GOP Speaker on Tuesday evening after accumulating 128 votes in the third round of secret balloting among party members. Following his designation, he held a press conference emphasizing the unity within the Republican conference.
Johnson’s appointment has garnered support from Republicans across the spectrum, including former President Trump, who described him as “smart” and expressed confidence in his ability to serve as a “fantastic Speaker.”
The newly elected Speaker currently serves on the Judiciary Committee alongside Representative Jordan. Together, they have raised concerns about the FBI’s targeting of Catholics who attend the Latin Mass. Johnson previously chaired the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus dedicated to monitoring GOP policies within the House.
A devout Evangelical, Johnson is widely recognized for his socially conservative stance. Throughout the 1990s, he and his wife Kelly actively opposed permissive divorce laws. In the 2000s, Johnson worked at the Christian-oriented law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, where he stood against same-sex “marriage” and championed religious liberty cases. He has consistently been an outspoken advocate for pro-life causes and holds an “A+” rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Moreover, Johnson has affiliations with the Family Research Council and introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act in October 2022, a bill that prohibits the use of federal funds to promote “woke” propaganda to children under 10 years of age. He has also been a vocal opponent of the pro-LGBT “Equality Act.” In addition to his staunch conservative positions, Johnson voted against certifying the Electoral College votes in the 2020 presidential election and served as a member of former President Trump’s impeachment defense team.