Who is Mike Johnson? Five things to know about the new Republican House speaker nbcnews
His role in promoting 2020 election denial
Johnson is a constitutional lawyer who has used his talents to craft some creative — and controversial — theories. The most notable is
his role in devising an argument aimed at keeping Donald Trump in power even though he lost the 2020 election.
His solidly conservative voting record
Johnson's voting record has earned him a lifetime rating of 92% from the American Conservative Union and 90% from Heritage Action.
In Biden’s first two years, Johnson voted against a slew of bipartisan bills — including to establish a Jan. 6 independent commission, the infrastructure law, reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a modest new gun law and the
CHIPS and Science Act.
His opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights
Johnson has a spotless history of voting against legal abortion, earning an "A+" rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Abortion rights proponents have noted his work from 2010 as a senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, citing
a letter in which he fought to shut down an abortion clinic in Baton Rouge.
He voted against bipartisan legislation to codify same-sex marriage, which Biden signed into law in 2022.
He has Trump's stamp of approval, sort of
On Wednesday morning, hours before an expected vote, Donald Trump, the de facto leader of the Republican Party, said he wasn't technically endorsing Johnson but suggesting the House elect him.
"I am not going to make an Endorsement in this race, because I COULD NEVER GO AGAINST ANY OF THESE FINE AND VERY TALENTED MEN, all of whom have supported me, in both mind and spirit, from the very beginning of our GREAT 2016 Victory. In 2024, we will have an even bigger, & more important, WIN! My strong SUGGESTION is to go with the leading candidate, Mike Johnson, & GET IT DONE, FAST!" Trump
wrote on his social media platform.
A relatively inexperienced speaker
With fewer than seven years under his belt, Johnson has a shorter length of service in the House than past speakers in modern history. Kevin McCarthy was in the House for 16 years before being elected speaker, Nancy Pelosi had 20 years of experience, Paul Ryan served for 16 years, and John Boehner had 20 years before ascending to the top job.
Ahead of the vote Wednesday, numerous members of Congress said they knew little about Johnson, with some Republican senators saying they had never even met him.
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