Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Mike Johnson

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Mike Johnson made an impact.

Mike Johnson is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2023. As a member of the Republican Party, he has represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district since 2017, marking his fifth term in the House.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2004: Service on Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Began

In 2004, Mike Johnson began his service on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

2004: Defended Louisiana Amendment 1

In 2004, Mike Johnson defended Louisiana Amendment 1, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman, against legal challenges.

2004: Joined Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

In 2004, Mike Johnson joined the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

August 2010: Named Founding Dean of Pressler School of Law

In August 2010, Mike Johnson was named the "founding dean" of the newly established Pressler School of Law at Louisiana College.

August 2012: Resigned from Pressler School of Law

In August 2012, Mike Johnson resigned from the Pressler School of Law at Louisiana College.

2012: Left Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

In 2012, Mike Johnson concluded his service on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

2012: Service on Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Ended

In 2012, Mike Johnson ended his service on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

April 2015: Proposed the Marriage and Conscience Act

In April 2015, Mike Johnson proposed the Marriage and Conscience Act in Louisiana, which aimed to protect individuals' beliefs about marriage. The bill faced criticism as potentially discriminatory against same-sex married couples.

May 19, 2015: Marriage and Conscience Act Tabled

On May 19, 2015, the Marriage and Conscience Act, proposed by Mike Johnson, was effectively ended when the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee voted to table the bill.

2015: Began Teaching at Liberty University and Guest Hosting Washington Watch

Around 2015, Mike Johnson started as a professor at Liberty University and occasionally guest hosted Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch.

2015: Founded Freedom Guard

In 2015, Mike Johnson founded Freedom Guard, a nonprofit law firm engaged in religious liberty litigation.

2015: Elected to Louisiana House of Representatives

In 2015, Mike Johnson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives.

February 10, 2016: Announced Candidacy for 4th Congressional District

On February 10, 2016, Mike Johnson announced his candidacy for the 4th congressional district seat.

September 2016: Summarized Legal Career

In September 2016, Mike Johnson summarized his legal career as "defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values, including the defense of traditional marriage, and other ideals like these when they've been under assault".

2016: Johnson Opposed Expansion of Medical Cannabis in Louisiana

In 2016, Mike Johnson opposed the expansion of medical cannabis in Louisiana, arguing that cannabis can worsen certain conditions, particularly epilepsy. He cited studies from the American Epilepsy Society.

2016: Advocated for Convention of States

In 2016, Mike Johnson strongly advocated for a national convention to amend the United States Constitution, helping lead the Louisiana House in petitioning Congress.

2016: Elected to Represent Louisiana's 4th Congressional District

In 2016, Mike Johnson was first elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district.

January 3, 2017: Sworn into Congress

On January 3, 2017, Mike Johnson was sworn into office as a member of Congress.

December 2017: Johnson Votes for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

In December 2017, Johnson voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, stating it would dramatically strengthen the U.S. economy.

2017: Became US Representative

In 2017, James Michael Johnson began representing Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2017: Johnson and Trump Begin Close Working Relationship

In 2017, Johnson and Trump begin a close working relationship with each other.

2017: Left Louisiana House of Representatives

In 2017, Mike Johnson departed from the Louisiana House of Representatives.

2017: Johnson Supports Trump's Executive Order on Immigration

In 2017, Mike Johnson supported President Trump's executive order that restricted immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, stating it was a measure to protect the homeland.

2017: Johnson Votes for the American Health Care Act

In 2017, Mike Johnson voted in favor of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which aimed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

April 2018: Johnson Argues for Student-Led Prayer in Public Schools

In April 2018, Mike Johnson joined Republican state Attorney General Jeff Landry and actor Kirk Cameron to argue for student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools, citing the First Amendment.

2018: Johnson States Entitlement Reform Is His Number One Priority

In 2018, Johnson said that entitlement reform is his "number one priority", adding that reforms to entitlement programs have to "happen yesterday" to maintain their long-term solvency.

2018: Won Second House Term

In 2018, Mike Johnson won his second term in the House of Representatives.

2019: Chaired Republican Study Committee

From 2019, Mike Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee.

2019: Johnson Opposes Raise the Wage Act

In 2019, Johnson opposed the Raise the Wage Act, which sought to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, referring to it as "job-crushing legislation".

2019: Johnson Spearheads Effort to Replace the ACA

In 2019, as chair of the Republican Study Committee, Mike Johnson spearheaded an effort to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The committee's plan included rescinding the ACA's Medicaid expansion.

2019: Johnson Defends Trump During Mueller Investigation

In 2019, during Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, Johnson defended Trump, stating that Trump had "cooperated fully" with the investigation and "done nothing wrong".

2019: Johnson Defends Trump During First Impeachment

In 2019, during the first impeachment of Donald Trump, Johnson defended Trump and advised White House officials to disregard Congressional subpoenas, citing executive privilege. He also served on Trump's legal defense team during both the 2019 and 2021 Senate impeachment trials.

February 2020: Johnson Visits Israel with 12Tribe Films Foundation

In February 2020, Mike Johnson visited Israel with the 12Tribe Films Foundation.

2020: Contested 2020 Presidential Election Results

In 2020, Mike Johnson contested the results of the 2020 presidential election in the House and in court.

2020: Voted to Overturn 2020 Presidential Election Results

In 2020, Mike Johnson was among 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

2020: Won Third House Term

In 2020, Mike Johnson won his third term in the House of Representatives.

2020: Johnson Co-Authored National Security Report on China Trade

In 2020, Mike Johnson, as leader of the Republican Study Committee, co-wrote a national security report that addressed China trade issues. The report advocated for tougher sanctions on entities affiliated with the People's Liberation Army and for expanding trade with countries like Taiwan, Indonesia, and Mongolia.

2021: Johnson Continues to Oppose Raise the Wage Act

In 2021, Johnson continued to oppose the Raise the Wage Act.

2021: Johnson on Trump's Legal Defence Team During Second Impeachment

In 2021, Johnson served as a member of Trump's legal defense team during the Senate impeachment trial, which resulted in acquittal.

2021: Became Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference

In 2021, Mike Johnson became the vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

February 2022: Johnson Condemns Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Calls for Sanctions

In February 2022, Mike Johnson condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, advocating for sanctions on Russia's economic interests and its exclusion from global commerce and international institutions.

March 2022: Co-hosting the Truth Be Told Podcast

In March 2022, Mike Johnson and his wife started co-hosting the "Truth Be Told" podcast, where they discuss public affairs and other issues from a Christian perspective.

April 2022: Johnson Votes for Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act

In April 2022, Mike Johnson voted in favor of the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022.

2022: Proposed as Speaker Candidate

After the 2022 midterm elections, Representative Andy Biggs proposed Mike Johnson as a possible compromise candidate for Speaker of the House.

2022: End of Guest Hosting Washington Watch

Around 2022, Mike Johnson's time as an occasional guest host of Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch ended.

2022: Johnson Introduces the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act

In 2022, Mike Johnson introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which would prohibit federally funded institutions from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity, drawing comparisons to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.

2022: Won Reelection Unopposed

In 2022, Mike Johnson won reelection unopposed.

January 2023: House Passes Resolution Condemning Violence Against Pro-Life Facilities

In January 2023, the House passed a resolution introduced by Johnson condemning violence against pro-life facilities, groups, and churches, while affirming the sanctity of life and the role of these organizations.

February 2023: Johnson Questions Transparency of Aid to Ukraine

In February 2023, Mike Johnson expressed concern about the transparency of the Ukrainian government's use of over $100 billion in aid from American taxpayers.

July 2023: Johnson Speaks Against Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Youth

At a July 2023 hearing on transgender youth, Mike Johnson spoke against allowing children to receive gender-affirming care and co-sponsored legislation that would make it a felony to provide opposite-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries to minors.

October 3, 2023: Floated as Potential Speaker Replacement

After Kevin McCarthy was removed from the position of speaker of the House on October 3, 2023, Representative Matt Gaetz floated Mike Johnson's name as a potential replacement.

October 25, 2023: Elected Speaker of the House

On October 25, 2023, Mike Johnson was elected as speaker of the House, succeeding Kevin McCarthy.

October 26, 2023: Met with President Biden and Attended Bipartisan Briefing

On October 26, 2023, Mike Johnson met with President Joe Biden for the first time as speaker before attending a bipartisan briefing at the White House regarding funding requests for aid to Ukraine and Israel.

November 2, 2023: House Passes Johnson-Supported Bill to Give Israel $14.3 Billion in Aid

On November 2, 2023, the House passed a bill supported by Mike Johnson to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in aid.

November 14, 2023: Johnson Calls for End to Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza War

On November 14, 2023, Mike Johnson described calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza war as "outrageous," stating that Israel would end its counter-offensive when Hamas no longer poses a threat.

December 2023: Johnson Conditions Aid for Ukraine on Border Security Measures

In December 2023, Mike Johnson stated that aid for Ukraine would be contingent upon the implementation of new border-security measures.

2023: Johnson Introduced Legislation Aimed at Tightening the Asylum System

As of 2023, Mike Johnson had "introduced legislation three times aimed at tightening the asylum system, including by raising the bar on undocumented immigrants to establish their claim of fear of persecution".

2023: Johnson Voted Against Decriminalization of Cannabis

As of 2023, Mike Johnson had voted against the decriminalization of cannabis twice.

2023: Johnson Introduces Bills on China

Before 2023, Mike Johnson introduced two bills related to China. One bill aimed to ban former members of the United States Congress from lobbying for communist entities, and the other sought to forbid foreign governments from funding litigation in U.S. courts.

2023: AIPAC Was Johnson's Largest Financial Donor

In 2023, AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbyist organization, was Mike Johnson's largest financial donor.

2023: Became Speaker of the House

In 2023, James Michael Johnson became the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

2023: Became Chair of House Judiciary Subcommittee

In 2023, Mike Johnson became chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.

2023: Johnson Co-Sponsored Legislation Declaring Life Begins at Conception

In 2023, Mike Johnson co-sponsored legislation declaring that human life and personhood begin at conception, with no exception for in-vitro fertilization treatments involving embryos or embryonic stem-cell research.

2023: End of term as Vice Chair of House Republican Conference

In 2023, Mike Johnson's term as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference ended.

2023: End of Term as Vice Chair

In 2023, Mike Johnson's term as vice chair of the House Republican Conference ended.

January 7, 2024: Agreement on Spending Levels

On January 7, 2024, congressional appropriators reached an agreement on the topline spending levels for 2024.

January 2024: Johnson Opposes Bipartisan Border Security Package with Aid for Ukraine

In January 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a bipartisan border security package sponsored by Senate Republicans that included aid for Ukraine and other U.S. allies. The bill ultimately failed to pass the Senate.

January 2024: Johnson Opposes Bipartisan Border Security and Immigration Bill

In January 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a bipartisan, Senate Republican-backed border security and immigration bill that would also provide funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill failed to pass the Senate. During border negotiations, Johnson said that he discussed immigration policy frequently with Trump.

February 13, 2024: House Impeached Secretary Mayorkas

On February 13, 2024, the House impeached Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas by a 214–213 vote; this was an impeachment resolution championed by Mike Johnson.

March 6, 2024: House Passes Spending Package Amid Republican Opposition

On March 6, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a $459 billion spending package. This "minibus" spending package, containing six of the twelve appropriations bills, faced strong opposition from the right wing of the Republican party who felt it lacked conservative policy wins.

March 7, 2024: Johnson Clarifies Position on Federal Legislation for IVF

On March 7, 2024, Mike Johnson clarified that he does not support federal legislation to protect legal access to IVF, stating he believes it is a state issue.

April 2024: Johnson Criticizes Pro-Palestinian Protests on University Campuses

In April 2024, Mike Johnson criticized pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. university campuses, expressing his determination that Congress would not remain silent while Jewish students feared for their safety.

April 2024: Johnson Advances $61 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine

In April 2024, Mike Johnson introduced a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine without border-related provisions. It passed Congress with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Biden.

April 2024: Johnson Advances Aid Package for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine

In April 2024, Mike Johnson presented a legislative package that provided aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine in separate bills, all of which passed Congress with bipartisan support and were signed into law by President Biden. The legislative package also included a House-passed bill to force the app TikTok to divest from its Chinese Communist Party-controlled parent company, ByteDance, as well as the REPO for Ukrainians Act.

May 8, 2024: Motion to Vacate Johnson's Speakership Fails

On May 8, 2024, Representative Greene introduced a motion to vacate Johnson's speakership, leading to a House vote. The House voted to table the motion by 359 to 43, allowing Johnson to remain speaker. Democrats supporting Johnson cited his role in funding the federal government and Ukraine as a key reason.

May 2024: Politico Analysis of Johnson's Alignment with Trump

In May 2024, Politico reported that Johnson had aligned himself with former President Trump while maintaining his own standing. They noted Johnson's conservative principles and his effectiveness in managing House members, earning praise for keeping his word and maintaining good faith with the opposition.

May 2024: Effort to Oust Speakership Failed

In May 2024, an effort to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership failed with two-thirds of the House voting to keep him in office.

May 2024: Marc Thiessen Praises Johnson's Speakership

In May 2024, conservative columnist Marc Thiessen of The Washington Post described Johnson as "one of the most consequential House speakers in a generation," emphasizing his effectiveness despite presiding over a small House majority.

May 2024: Johnson States Abortion Policy is the Purview of the States

In May 2024, following the Dobbs decision, Mike Johnson stated that abortion policy was the purview of individual states and indicated he would not pursue a nationwide abortion ban.

July 2024: Johnson Promises Tough Policies on China

In July 2024, Mike Johnson pledged to pass several bills proposing tough policies on China, stating in a speech to the Hudson Institute that "China poses the greatest threat to global peace" and that Congress must focus on countering China.

July 2024: Wall Street Journal Editorial Praises Johnson's Leadership

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal's editorial board published an opinion piece titled "Mike Johnson, Leader of the Free World". The piece highlighted Johnson's speech at the Hudson Institute, in which he "laid down a marker for a GOP that rejects U.S. decline and retreat abroad" and pushed his party in the direction of Ronald Reagan.

November 2024: Johnson Announces New Bathroom Policy in U.S. Capitol

In November 2024, Mike Johnson announced a new policy regarding bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol, reserving single-sex facilities for individuals of that biological sex. The policy was enacted shortly after the election of the first openly transgender person to Congress.

December 2024: Johnson Speaks with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te

In December 2024, Mike Johnson spoke with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during a stopover in Hawaii.

2024: Johnson Endorses Trump's 2024 Presidential Campaign

In 2024, Mike Johnson endorsed Donald Trump's campaign for president. Trump has also endorsed Johnson, and they are considered close allies, having worked closely together since 2017.

2024: Johnson Opposes New Warrant Requirement for FISA

In 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a new warrant requirement for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), reversing his previous criticism of the program after receiving classified briefings.

2024: Won Reelection

In 2024, Mike Johnson won reelection with 262,821 votes (86%) to fellow Republican Joshua Morott's 43,427 (14%) votes.

January 3, 2025: Johnson Reelected as Speaker of the House

On January 3, 2025, which was the opening day of the 119th Congress, Mike Johnson was reelected as speaker on the first ballot. He received votes from every House Republican except one, and every House Democrat voted for Hakeem Jeffries.

March 2025: Johnson Criticizes Judges Overruling Trump Administration Policies

In March 2025, Mike Johnson criticized federal judges for issuing injunctions against the Trump administration's policies, calling it a "dangerous trend" that violates the separation of powers. He also suggested that Congress has the power to eliminate district courts.

June 2025: Johnson Supports Trump's Strikes on Iran

In June 2025, Mike Johnson supported President Trump's strikes on Iran and opposed "a bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent U.S. intervention in Iran".

August 2025: Johnson Claims West Bank Belongs to Jewish People

During an August 2025 visit to the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the West Bank, Mike Johnson stated that the "mountains of Judea and Samaria" belong to the Jewish people "by right".

2025: Reelected to Full Term as Speaker

In 2025, Mike Johnson was narrowly reelected to a full term as speaker of the House.

2025: Trump Endorses Johnson in Speaker Bid

In 2025, Trump endorsed Johnson in his speaker bid, and Johnson secured the speakership only after Trump directly spoke with holdout votes. Johnson attended Trump's second inauguration.