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 currently serving as the 56th Speaker of the House since 2023. A Republican, he has represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district since 2017, now in his fifth term. His rise to the speakership marks a significant moment in American politics.

Sections (6)

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

2004: Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

From 2004, Johnson served on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

2004: Defense of Louisiana Amendment 1

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

August 2010: Founding Dean of Pressler School of Law

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

August 2012: Resignation from Pressler School of Law

In August 2012, Johnson resigned from his position at Pressler School of Law. The law school never opened.

2012: Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

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

2015: Liberty University Professor

From roughly 2015, Johnson is a professor at Liberty University and teaches classes at its Helms School of Government.

2015: Founded Freedom Guard

In 2015, Johnson founded Freedom Guard, a nonprofit law firm that engaged in religious liberty litigation, and served as its chief counsel. Freedom Guard defended the sports chaplaincy program at Louisiana State University and represented Ark Encounter in a federal lawsuit.

2015: Election to Louisiana House of Representatives

In 2015, Johnson ran unopposed and was elected to the 8th District seat of the Louisiana House of Representatives after it was vacated.

February 10, 2016: Candidacy Announcement

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

September 2016: Summary of Legal Career

In September 2016, 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: Proponent of Constitutional Convention

In 2016, Johnson was a strong proponent of a movement to amend the United States Constitution at a national convention. He helped lead the Louisiana House in formally petitioning Congress to call a "Convention of States".

2016: Election to Congress

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

January 3, 2017: Sworn into Office

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

December 2017: Voted for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

In December 2017, Mike Johnson voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Following the vote, he stated the economy was "stunted" and a "burden" and emphasized the Act would strengthen the U.S. economy.

2017: Representative for Louisiana's 4th congressional district

In 2017, James Michael Johnson began representing Louisiana's 4th congressional district, marking his entry into the United States House of Representatives.

2017: Supported Trump's Immigration Ban

In 2017, Mike Johnson voiced his support for President Trump's executive order that prohibited immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, arguing it was a necessary measure to protect the homeland.

2017: Voted for American Health Care Act

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

April 2018: Advocacy for School Prayer

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

2018: Won a Second House Term

In 2018, Johnson won a second House term, defeating Democratic nominee Ryan Trundle.

2018: Entitlement Reform Priority

In 2018, Mike Johnson stated that entitlement reform was his "number one priority," stressing the need for immediate reforms to maintain their long-term solvency.

2019: Chairman of the Republican Study Committee

From 2019, Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee.

2019: Opposed Raise the Wage Act

In 2019, Mike Johnson opposed the Raise the Wage Act, which proposed raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, labeling it "job-crushing legislation".

2019: Spearheaded ACA Replacement Effort

In 2019, as chair of the Republican Study Committee, Mike Johnson spearheaded an effort to replace the ACA. The committee's proposal included rescinding the ACA's Medicaid expansion.

2020: Contesting the 2020 Presidential Election

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

2020: Won a Third House Term

In 2020, Johnson won a third House term with 185,265 votes, defeating Democratic nominee Kenny Houston.

2020: Co-authored National Security Report on China

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

2021: Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference

From 2021, Johnson served as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

2021: Opposed Raise the Wage Act again

In 2021, Mike Johnson reiterated his opposition to the Raise the Wage Act.

February 2022: Condemned Russian Invasion of Ukraine

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

March 2022: Podcast Launch

Since March 2022, Mike Johnson and his wife have co-hosted the podcast "Truth Be Told", discussing public affairs and other issues from a Christian perspective. Johnson has stated on his podcast that "the Word of God is, of course, the ultimate source of all truth", and attributed the success of the United States to its foundation upon a "religious statement of faith".

April 2022: Voted 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 Compromise Candidate for Speaker

After the 2022 midterm elections, Representative Andy Biggs proposed Johnson as a possible compromise candidate for Speaker of the House instead of Republican Conference leader Kevin McCarthy.

2022: Won Reelection Unopposed

In 2022, Johnson won reelection unopposed, securing his seat in the House of Representatives.

2022: Introduced Stop the Sexualization of Children Act

In 2022, Mike Johnson introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which would prohibit federally funded institutions, including public schools and libraries, from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill has been compared to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.

2022: Guest Host of Washington Watch

Until roughly 2022, Johnson was an occasional guest host of Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch.

February 2023: Demanded Transparency on Ukraine Aid

In February 2023, Mike Johnson voiced concerns over the use of American taxpayer money sent to Ukraine, demanding transparency from the Ukrainian government.

July 2023: Spoke 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, citing the need to protect children from abuse and physical harm. He has also co-sponsored legislation that would criminalize providing opposite-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries to minors.

October 3, 2023: Gaetz Floated Johnson as Replacement

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

October 25, 2023: Election as Speaker of the House

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

October 26, 2023: First Meeting with President Biden

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

November 2, 2023: House Passed Israel Aid Bill

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: Called for No Ceasefire in Gaza War

On November 14, 2023, Mike Johnson stated that calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza war were "outrageous," asserting that Israel would cease its counter-offensive when Hamas is no longer a threat.

December 2023: Conditioned Ukraine Aid on Border Security

In December 2023, Mike Johnson stated that any aid to Ukraine would depend on the implementation of new border-security measures.

2023: Legislation to Tighten 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: Introduced Bills on China

Before 2023, Mike Johnson introduced two bills concerning China; one aimed to ban former members of the United States Congress from lobbying for communist entities and the other to prevent foreign governments from funding litigation in U.S. courts.

2023: 56th Speaker of the House

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

2023: Chair of House Judiciary Subcommittee

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

2023: Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference

In 2023, Johnson concluded his term as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

2023: Co-sponsored Personhood Legislation

In 2023, Mike Johnson co-sponsored legislation declaring that human life and personhood begin at conception, without exceptions for in-vitro fertilization or embryonic stem-cell research.

January 7, 2024: Agreement on Topline Spending Levels

On January 7, 2024, congressional appropriators reached an agreement on the topline spending levels for 2024. Hardliners pushed Johnson to abandon the deal.

January 2024: Opposed Bipartisan Border Security 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. He discussed immigration policy frequently with Trump during border negotiations.

February 13, 2024: Impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas

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

March 6, 2024: House Passes Spending Package

On March 6, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a $459 billion spending package containing six of the twelve appropriations bills, despite opposition from the Republican conference's rightmost faction who felt it lacked conservative policy wins.

March 7, 2024: Clarified Position on Federal IVF Legislation

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

April 2024: Put Forward $61 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine

In April 2024, Mike Johnson introduced a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine without border-related provisions, which passed in Congress with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Biden. This decision was influenced by classified briefings Johnson received about the situation in Ukraine.

April 2024: Johnson Puts Forward Aid Package

In April 2024, Mike Johnson put forward a legislative package providing aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine in separate bills, which passed Congress with bipartisan support and were signed into law by President Biden. The package also included a bill to force TikTok to divest from ByteDance and the REPO for Ukrainians Act.

April 2024: Criticized Pro-Palestinian Protests

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

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

On May 8, 2024, Representative Greene introduced a motion to vacate Johnson's speakership, but the House voted to table the motion by a vote of 359 to 43, allowing Johnson to remain speaker. Democrats supported Johnson due to his role in providing funding for the federal government and for Ukraine.

May 2024: Failed Effort to Oust Johnson

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

July 2024: Promised Tough Policies on China

In July 2024, Mike Johnson pledged to pass bills proposing tough policies on China, stating that "China poses the greatest threat to global peace."

November 2024: Announced Bathroom Policy in U.S. Capitol

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

December 2024: Spoke with Taiwanese President

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

2024: Won Reelection in 2024

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

2024: Opposed 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 after gaining more information through classified briefings and concluding that FISA reauthorization was crucial for national security.

2024: Republicans Win Presidency and Senate

In the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained control of the House, flipped control of the U.S. Senate, and won the presidency, yielding an undivided Republican government.

January 3, 2025: Johnson Reelected Speaker

On January 3, 2025, the opening day of the 119th Congress, Johnson was reelected speaker on the first ballot, with every House Republican except Thomas Massie voting for him.

March 2025: Comments on Federal Judges and 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 an entire district court.

June 2025: Supported Strikes on Iran

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

August 2025: Comments on Israeli Settlement in West Bank

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" rightfully belong to the Jewish people.

2025: Endorsement in Speaker Election

In 2025, Donald Trump endorsed Mike Johnson in the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election. Johnson secured the speakership after Trump intervened with holdout votes and Johnson also attended Trump's second inauguration in 2025.