Who is Mike Johnson? What to know about the new House speaker

Table Of Content

• Rep. Mike Johnson voted new House speaker
• Johnson enters speaker’s office for first time since being sworn in
• House chamber mood is chipper and lively ahead of speaker vote
• Johnson appears to have the votes to become speaker
• Republicans who opposed Jordan for speaker are now rallying behind Johnson
• Tom Emmer won nomination only to drop out after opposition by Trump and far right

McCarthy announced in September that he would be opening a formal impeachment inquiry into Mr. Biden focused on allegations that he benefited financially from his family members' foreign business dealings. Republicans have presented no direct evidence of wrongdoing by the president since they began looking into the Biden family's overseas work after taking control of the House in January. In his proposed schedule for the current Congress, Johnson said passing the final version of the NDAA would take place in December. In his blueprint for the rest of the 118th Congress, Johnson proposed the House take up the farm bill in December and begin negotiations with the Senate "as soon as possible" following action by the upper chamber. Congress passes a package of legislation that sets policy for agricultural and food programs, known as the farm bill, every five years. The most recent package was approved in 2018 and expired Sept. 30, though some of its provisions remain in place, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Rep. Mike Johnson voted new House speaker

CNN Political Director David Chalian notes that as the House approached the halfway mark of the floor vote, Republican Mike Johnson has lost zero votes from members of his party. When speaker elections have gone to multiple ballots, no speaker has ever been elected on ballots four to eight. During the speaker battle, Trump proved more adept at hurting candidates than helping them win — his early endorsee, Jordan, flamed out on the floor.

Johnson enters speaker’s office for first time since being sworn in

He’s taking charge after three weeks of infighting, other failed candidacies and no action on legislation. Stefanik made the argument that Johnson is the best candidate as "we live in perilous times and the American people are hurting." Voting will be done verbally with members called by name alphabetically and then stating their choice for speaker.

House chamber mood is chipper and lively ahead of speaker vote

"We're going to dispense with all the usual ceremonies and celebrations that traditionally follow a new speakership because we have no time for either one," Johnson said. “The door to the speaker’s office now is open to the members and to the constituents, not just the lobbyists,” Rep. Matt Rosendale told reporters. House conservatives are signaling they’ll give the newly minted House Speaker Mike Johnson some runway and flexibility as the House barrels toward a November 17 spending deadline to fund the government. GOP Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma is considering a run for conference vice chair – the leadership role previously occupied by now-Speaker Mike Johnson, according to her spokesperson. Republicans could continue with their inquiry and ultimately decide not to bring articles of impeachment against the president. "But I also do believe that the House has passed the threshold for an impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Biden."

Two other previous candidates, Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, withdrew their names from consideration earlier in the process after failing to unite the party's various factions. The House is expected to vote on a resolution in support of Israel on Wednesday afternoon, according to a notice from the House Democratic whip. The members who ousted McCarthy also told reporters that they have no regrets now about ousting McCarthy.

Republicans who opposed Jordan for speaker are now rallying behind Johnson

Asked if he would bring a vote to oust Johnson if he put forth a short-term spending bill at current spending levels, Rep. Matt Gaetz said he’s optimistic Johnson will be able to actually pass the individual spending bills. Mr. Biden welcomed news of Johnson's election and said in a statement that both sides "need to move swiftly to address our national security needs and to avoid a shutdown in 22 days." A New York Times article last year called Johnson “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections” on Jan. 6, 2021. His argument to colleagues was that certain states’ changes to their voting procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic were unconstitutional, an argument that became more palatable to lawmakers than the fabricated claims of mass fraud. The little-known congressman was first elected in 2016, representing a solidly Republican part of north and western Louisiana. He has ascended through the ranks, chairing the conservative Republican Study Committee and holding the position of House Republican Conference vice chair.

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He continued to act as one of Trump’s chief defenders through the 2020 election, rallying colleagues to sign a letter of support for an unsuccessful case by several states to throw out some election results. A constitutional lawyer and former member of the Louisiana state House, Johnson was first elected to the U.S. He is the first Louisianan to become speaker and the first Southerner to serve as speaker since Republican Newt Gingrich of Georgia in the 1990s. Members of the House are now nominating representatives from their party for the speakership. Speaker designee Mike Johnson is working the floor ahead of his speakership vote, shaking hands and taking selfies with members. House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik nominated speaker designee Mike Johnson on the House floor Wednesday as the GOP looks to elect a speaker after failing to fill the vacancy for three weeks.

He sits on the Judiciary Committee (and chairs a subcommittee on the Constitution), the Armed Services Committee and the newly created select committee on "Weaponization of the Federal Government." As House Republicans gathered earlier in the week to select their third nominee for speaker, Trump vowed to remain on the sidelines of the race. But hours after Emmer won the nod in a closed-door vote by the conference Tuesday morning, the former president lambasted the Minnesota Republican, writing on Truth Social that "voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake." The four absences mean Johnson will need 215 votes to win the speakership if all members in the chamber vote for a candidate.

House begins first round of voting for speaker

"On behalf of the House Republican conference, I rise today to nominate the gentleman from Louisiana, Mike Johnson, as speaker of the people's house," Stefanik said, which followed loud applause. Chalian noted that the last Republican candidate to win the speaker's gavel on the first vote was Paul Ryan in 2017. The GOP party also cheered on Rep. Jim Jordan, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Majority Whip Tom Emmer — all who had launched bids for the speakership — after they voted for Johnson. Rep. Mike Johnson, a key figure in failed efforts to overturn the 2020 election, seems to have enough votes to secure the gavel after weeks of GOP infighting left the House in chaos.

The brief claimed that the officials and courts in each of the battleground states unconstitutionally usurped the power granted to state legislators by changing election rules in 2020. "I think you're going to see that we're back at full strength. We're energized, unified and I think that's a positive thing for the country," he said. Democrats will nominate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and they are being urged to vote for him, according to a notice from Democratic whip Katherine Clark's office. Rep. Pete Aguilar , the Democratic caucus chair, will deliver the nominating speech for Jeffries. "We have to ensure Vladimir Putin is not successful, and I think all the House Republicans are united in that cause."

GOP Rep. Scott Perry, a conservative member from Pennsylvania, said Tuesday that members will likely give Johnson some leeway on government spending bills. A member of Congress since 2017, Johnson has no experience in the House leadership, but vowed to hit the ground running and get the House back to work. A government shutdown is fast approaching, and the White House has requested a $106 billion emergency aid package for Israel, Ukraine and other priorities.