Mike Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Johnson
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Official portrait, 2024
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| 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office October 25, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Leader of the House Republican Conference | |
| Assumed office October 25, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – October 25, 2023 |
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| 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 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Walker |
| Succeeded by | Jim Banks |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 4th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | John Fleming |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from the 8th district |
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| In office February 22, 2015 – January 3, 2017 |
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| 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 | 5 |
| Education | Louisiana State University (BS, JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
James Michael Johnson (born January 30, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician. He is currently the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He took on this important role on October 25, 2023.
Johnson is a member of the Republican Party. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2016. Before becoming Speaker, he held other leadership positions. From 2019 to 2021, he chaired the Republican Study Committee. He also served as the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023.
Before joining the U.S. Congress, Johnson was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives. On October 24, 2023, he became the Republican nominee for Speaker. He was then elected the 56th Speaker of the House the next day. He is the first Speaker ever from Louisiana.
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Early Life and Education
Johnson was born in Shreveport. He is the oldest of four children. His father was a firefighter who was hurt in the line of duty. He also started a charity called the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation.
Johnson went to Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport. He later studied at Louisiana State University. He earned a bachelor's degree in business in 1995. In 1998, he earned a law degree from Louisiana State's Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
Legal Career
Before he was elected to Congress, Johnson worked as a lawyer. He was a partner at the Kitchens Law Firm. He also worked as a senior attorney and spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund. This group is now known as Alliance Defending Freedom. He was also the chief counsel for a non-profit law firm called Freedom Guard.
In 2016, Johnson described his legal work. He said he focused on "defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values." This included defending "traditional marriage."
Johnson was a trustee for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. This group is part of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served there from 2004 to 2012. In the late 1990s, he and his wife appeared on TV. They talked about Louisiana's new marriage covenant laws. These laws made it harder to get a divorce.
Louisiana House of Representatives
Johnson ran for a seat in the Louisiana House in 2015. He was the only candidate, so he won without opposition.
Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act
In April 2015, Johnson suggested a bill called the Marriage and Conscience Act. This bill aimed to protect people or groups from being treated unfairly by the state. This would apply if their views on marriage were different from others. Critics said the bill might allow people to discriminate against same-sex married couples.
Louisiana's Governor Bobby Jindal said he would sign the bill if it passed. However, some businesses like IBM opposed it. They worried it would make hiring difficult. Other politicians also spoke against it.
On May 19, 2015, a committee voted against the bill. This stopped it from becoming law. Both Republicans and Democrats voted against it. After the bill failed, Governor Jindal issued an executive order to try and achieve its goals.
Other Actions
Johnson also opposed the Common Core State Standards Initiative. This is a set of learning standards for schools.
U.S. House of Representatives
Early Terms
Johnson became a member of the U.S. House on January 3, 2017. He was chosen as the Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference. He also served as an Assistant Whip for House Republicans. He was a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee. He also chaired the Republican Study Committee for a time.
Johnson voted for the American Health Care Act of 2017. In December 2017, he voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He said this tax reform would make the U.S. economy stronger.
Johnson was among some Republicans who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. In May 2021, he and other Republican leaders voted against creating a special group to investigate the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
After the 2022 elections, some suggested Johnson as a possible Speaker candidate. This was when Kevin McCarthy faced opposition for the role. In 2023, Johnson became the chair of a subcommittee focused on the Constitution.
Speaker of the House
After Speaker Kevin McCarthy's unprecedented ouster, Johnson was again suggested as a Speaker candidate. On October 13, 2023, he first said he would not run. However, he later decided to run for the vacant Speaker position.
On October 24, 2023, Johnson became the fourth Republican nominee for Speaker. The next day, October 25, 2023, he was elected the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He has served in the House for a shorter time than any Speaker in 140 years.
On March 22, 2024, a Republican representative filed a resolution to remove Mike Johnson as Speaker. On May 8, 2024, a vote was held on this resolution. The House voted 359 to 43 to stop the resolution, allowing Johnson to remain Speaker.
Committee Assignments
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government (Chair)
- Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
- Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet
- Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Readiness
- Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems
Caucus Memberships
- Republican Study Committee
- Congressional Western Caucus
Political Positions
Johnson is part of the Christian conservative group within the Republican Party.
Climate Change
In 2017, Johnson questioned the idea that human activities cause climate change. His group, the Republican Study Committee, has called Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal a "Greedy New Steal." They have also described wind and solar as "inefficient energy sources."
Johnson has a very low score (2%) on the League of Conservation Voters' environmental scorecard. This means he often votes against environmental protection. He has received money from the oil and gas industry.
Immigration
Johnson supported President Donald Trump's 2017 order. This order aimed to stop immigration from seven mostly Muslim countries. Johnson said it was to "adequately protect our homeland."
In 2023, Johnson voted for a change that would cut funding for immigration and refugee help.
Prayer in Public Schools
In April 2018, Johnson spoke in favor of student-led prayer in public schools. He argued that the First Amendment protects religious expression. He appeared at prayer rallies in Louisiana. These rallies were a response to a lawsuit. The lawsuit claimed a school board allowed teachers to include Christian ideas in classes.
Taxation
In 2016, when he was a state representative, Johnson voted against increasing Louisiana's sales tax.
Before the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Johnson said cutting business taxes would help the economy grow a lot. However, studies by non-political groups suggested the growth would be much smaller.
Veterans
Johnson voted against the PACT ACT. This law expanded health benefits for veterans who were exposed to harmful chemicals during their military service.
Personal Life
Johnson is married to Kelly Lary. She is a counselor and speaker on family topics. They have four children. Johnson has lived in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in Allen, Texas.
Johnson has shared that he and his wife took in a 14-year-old boy when they were newlyweds. They consider him part of their family. Johnson is an evangelical Christian.
Images for kids
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Mike Johnson's signature
See also
In Spanish: Mike Johnson (político) para niños
