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 United States House of Representatives since 2023. As a Republican, he has represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the House since 2017, marking his fifth term in Congress.
2002: Joined Alliance Defense Fund
In 2002, Johnson became an attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund, now known as Alliance Defending Freedom.
2004: Served on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
In 2004, Johnson began his service on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
2004: Defended Louisiana Amendment 1
In 2004, Johnson defended Louisiana Amendment 1, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman, against legal challenges.
August 2010: Named 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.
2010: Left Alliance Defense Fund
In 2010, Johnson ended his time as an attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund.
August 2012: Resigned from Pressler School of Law
In August 2012, Johnson resigned from his position at the Pressler School of Law at Louisiana College after the law school never opened.
2012: Ended Service on Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
In 2012, Johnson ended his service on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
2012: Left Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
In 2012, 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, Johnson proposed the Marriage and Conscience Act in Louisiana. It was met with both support and criticism.
May 19, 2015: Marriage and Conscience Act Tabled
On May 19, 2015, the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee voted to table the Marriage and Conscience Act, effectively ending its chances to become law.
2015: Occasional Guest Host of Washington Watch
From roughly 2015, Johnson was an occasional guest host of Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch.
2015: Founded Freedom Guard
In 2015, Johnson founded Freedom Guard, a nonprofit law firm specializing in religious liberty litigation, and served as its chief counsel. He also represented Ark Encounter in a lawsuit against Kentucky officials regarding tax breaks.
2015: Ran Unopposed for Louisiana House of Representatives
In 2015, Johnson ran unopposed for the 8th District seat of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
2015: Elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives
In 2015, Johnson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, marking the beginning of his political career.
February 10, 2016: Announced Candidacy for 4th Congressional District Seat
On February 10, 2016, Johnson announced his candidacy for the 4th congressional district seat.
September 2016: Summarized 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 Amending the United States Constitution
In 2016, Johnson was a strong proponent of amending the United States Constitution at a national convention, advocating for a "Convention of States".
2016: Elected to Represent Louisiana's 4th Congressional District
In 2016, Johnson was elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district in Congress.
January 3, 2017: Sworn into Office as Member of Congress
On January 3, 2017, Johnson was sworn into office as a member of Congress.
December 2017: Vote for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In December 2017, Johnson voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and stated that it would dramatically strengthen the U.S. economy.
2017: Became Representative for Louisiana's 4th Congressional District
In 2017, James Michael Johnson began representing Louisiana's 4th congressional district.
2017: Left Louisiana House of Representatives
In 2017, Johnson left the Louisiana House of Representatives after being elected to Congress.
2017: Support for Trump's executive order on immigration
In 2017, Johnson supported President Trump's executive order to prohibit immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, citing the need to protect the homeland.
2017: Vote for the American Health Care Act
In 2017, Johnson voted in favor of the American Health Care Act, which aimed to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
2017: Johnson Argues Roe v. Wade Necessitates Social Program Cuts
In a 2017 House Judiciary Committee meeting, Johnson argued that Roe v. Wade made it necessary to cut social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid because abortion reduced the labor force.
2017: Close alliance with Trump
Since 2017, Johnson and Trump are considered close allies and have worked closely together. Trump has publicly praised Johnson's efforts and performance.
2018: Became Adjunct Professor at Liberty University
In 2018, Johnson became an adjunct professor teaching online courses at Liberty University's Helms School of Government.
2018: Entitlement reform priority
In 2018, Johnson stated that entitlement reform was his "number one priority," advocating for immediate changes to maintain their long-term solvency.
2018: Won Second House Term
In 2018, Johnson won a second term in the House of Representatives.
2019: Chaired the Republican Study Committee
From 2019, Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee.
2019: Opposition to the Raise the Wage Act in 2019
In 2019, Johnson opposed the Raise the Wage Act, which aimed to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, labeling it as "job-crushing legislation".
2019: Effort to replace the ACA
In 2019, Johnson, as chair of the Republican Study Committee, spearheaded an effort to replace the ACA. The committee's plan included rescinding the ACA's Medicaid expansion.
2019: Defense of Trump during first impeachment
In 2019, during Donald Trump's first impeachment, Johnson defended Trump, advising White House officials to disregard congressional subpoenas citing executive privilege. He also joined Trump's legal defense team for the Senate trial.
2019: Johnson Defends Trump During Mueller Investigation
In 2019, during Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, Johnson defended Trump, saying that Trump had "cooperated fully" with the investigation and "done nothing wrong".
February 2020: Visit to Israel with 12Tribe Films Foundation
In February 2020, Johnson visited Israel with the 12Tribe Films Foundation.
November 2020: Johnson Urges Trump to Pursue Legal Remedies
In early November 2020, after media outlets called the 2020 United States presidential election in favor of Joe Biden, Johnson said that he spoke to Trump twice, urging him to "exhaust every available legal remedy to restore Americans' trust in the fairness of our election system".
November 17, 2020: Johnson Alleges Voting Machine Rigging
On November 17, 2020, Johnson said there was "a lot of merit" to allegations about voting machines being rigged with software by Dominion, linking it to Hugo Chávez's Venezuela. By October 2022, Johnson stated that he had never supported claims of massive fraud in the 2020 election.
December 2020: Johnson Leads Amicus Brief in Support of Texas v. Pennsylvania
In December 2020, Johnson led an effort in which 126 Republican U.S. representatives signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit contesting the 2020 presidential election results. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
2020: Co-authored national security report on China trade issues
In 2020, Johnson co-wrote a national security report that addressed China trade issues, advocating for sanctions against entities affiliated with the People's Liberation Army and for expanding trade with other countries to counter China.
2020: Won Third House Term
In 2020, Johnson secured a third term in the House of Representatives.
2020: Johnson Argued Against Relaxing Voting Restrictions
In January 2021, Johnson objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results, arguing that state officials had violated the Constitution by relaxing restrictions on mail-in voting or early voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic without consulting state legislatures.
January 2021: Johnson Objects to Certifying Electoral College Results
During the January 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Johnson objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results from Arizona and Pennsylvania. He was called "the most important architect of the Electoral College objections" by The New York Times.
May 19, 2021: Johnson Votes Against January 6 Commission
On May 19, 2021, Johnson and all seven other Republican House leaders in the 117th Congress voted against establishing a national commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack.
2021: Served as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
From 2021, Johnson served as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.
2021: Johnson Co-Sponsors Bills to Ban Abortion
In 2021, Johnson co-sponsored bills attempting to ban abortion nationwide, such as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children From Late-Term Abortions Act, and the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2021.
2021: Opposition to the Raise the Wage Act in 2021
In 2021, Johnson continued his opposition to the Raise the Wage Act, reiterating his stance against the bill.
March 2022: Co-hosting the podcast Truth Be Told
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. On the podcast, Johnson stated 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: Vote for Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act
In April 2022, Johnson voted in favor of the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, showing support for Ukraine.
2022: Proposed as Speaker of the House Candidate
After the 2022 midterm elections, Representative Andy Biggs proposed Johnson as a possible compromise candidate for Speaker of the House.
2022: Won Reelection Unopposed
In 2022, Johnson won reelection unopposed.
2022: Occasional Guest Host of Washington Watch
Until 2022, Johnson was an occasional guest host of Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch.
January 2023: House Passes Johnson's Resolution Condemning Violence Against Pro-Life Facilities
In January 2023, the House passed a resolution introduced by Johnson condemning "vandalism, violence, and destruction against pro-life facilities, groups, and churches", and affirmed the "sanctity of life".
February 2023: Concerns about aid to Ukraine
In February 2023, Johnson voiced concerns about the use of over $100 billion in aid sent to Ukraine by American taxpayers, demanding transparency.
October 3, 2023: Mentioned 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 Johnson's name as a potential replacement.
October 2023: Johnson Receives Donations from Oil and Gas Industry
As of October 2023, Johnson had received $338,125 in donations from the oil and gas industry during his congressional career.
October 25, 2023: Elected Speaker of the House
On October 25, 2023, Johnson was elected as the Speaker of the House, succeeding Kevin McCarthy.
November 2, 2023: House passed bill to give Israel $14.3 billion in aid
On November 2, 2023, the House passed a bill supported by Johnson to give Israel $14.3 billion in aid.
December 2023: Conditioning Ukraine aid on border security
In December 2023, Johnson stated that future aid to Ukraine would be conditional on the implementation of new border-security measures.
2023: Legislation to tighten asylum system
As of 2023, 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 regarding China
Before 2023, Johnson introduced two bills about China: one to ban former members of Congress from lobbying for communist entities and another to forbid foreign governments from funding litigation in U.S. courts.
2023: Elected as 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, Johnson became the chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.
2023: Co-sponsorship of legislation on personhood at conception
In 2023, Johnson co-sponsored legislation that declared human life and personhood begin at conception, without exceptions for in-vitro fertilization or embryonic stem-cell research.
2023: End of Term as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
In 2023, Johnson's term as vice chair of the House Republican Conference ended.
January 7, 2024: Congressional Appropriators Reach Spending Agreement
On January 7, 2024, congressional appropriators reached an agreement on the topline spending levels for 2024, similar to a previous deal. Hardliners urged Johnson to abandon the deal, but he clarified that he had not. Conservatives also pushed for a full-year continuing resolution, leading to potential spending cuts under McCarthy's deal.
January 2024: Opposition to Senate border security package
In January 2024, Johnson opposed a bipartisan Senate Republican-sponsored border security package that included aid for Ukraine and other U.S. allies. The bill subsequently failed to pass the Senate.
January 2024: Opposition to Senate border security and immigration bill
In January 2024, Johnson opposed a bipartisan, Senate Republican-backed border security and immigration bill, which also included funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This bill did not pass the Senate. Johnson stated that he discussed immigration policy with Trump frequently during border negotiations.
February 13, 2024: House Impeached Alejandro Mayorkas
On February 13, 2024, the House impeached Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas by a 214–213 vote, with Johnson championing the impeachment resolution.
March 6, 2024: House Passes "Minibus" Spending Package
On March 6, 2024, the House passed a $459 billion "minibus" spending package with six appropriations bills. The rightmost faction of the Republican conference opposed the deal. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to vacate Johnson's speakership, warning him about relying on Democratic votes.
March 7, 2024: Clarification on federal legislation for IVF
On March 7, 2024, Johnson clarified that he does not support federal legislation to protect legal access to IVF, believing it is a state issue, while also stating that IVF "is a remarkable thing and something we ought to preserve and protect".
April 2024: Criticism of pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. university campuses
In April 2024, Johnson criticized pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. university campuses, expressing determination to ensure Congress addresses safety concerns for Jewish students.
April 2024: Johnson Puts Forward Aid Package for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine
In April 2024, Johnson introduced a legislative package providing aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine as separate bills. All bills passed with bipartisan support and were signed into law. The package also included a bill forcing TikTok to divest from ByteDance and the REPO for Ukrainians Act.
April 2024: $61 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine
In April 2024, Johnson put forward a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine that didn't contain any border-related provisions, which passed in Congress with bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Biden.
May 8, 2024: Motion to Vacate Johnson's Speakership
On May 8, 2024, Greene introduced a motion to vacate Johnson's speakership, forcing a vote. The House voted to table the motion, allowing Johnson to remain speaker. Democrats supported Johnson due to his role in providing funding for the federal government and Ukraine.
May 2024: Politico on Johnson's Alignment with Trump
In May 2024, Politico reported that Johnson had aligned himself with former President Trump, fortified his reputation, and successfully isolated his critics. Johnson is described as an authentic movement conservative, deft at handling his members, keeping his word, and operating in good faith with Democrats.
May 2024: Effort to Oust Johnson from Speakership Failed
In May 2024, an effort to oust Johnson from the speakership failed with two-thirds of the House voting to keep him in office.
May 2024: Marc Thiessen Praises Johnson
In May 2024, conservative columnist Marc Thiessen wrote in The Washington Post that "Johnson has gone from accidental House speaker to one of the most consequential House speakers in a generation" and that despite presiding over the smallest House majority in U.S. history, Johnson had become "one of the most effective speakers ever".
May 2024: Johnson on Abortion Policy Post-Dobbs Decision
In May 2024, following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, Johnson stated that abortion policy was the purview of the states and that he would not try to pass a nationwide abortion ban.
July 2024: Promise to pass bills with tough policies on China
In July 2024, Johnson promised to pass bills with tough policies on China, stating that China poses the greatest threat to global peace.
July 2024: Wall Street Journal Praises Johnson's Leadership
In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece titled "Mike Johnson, Leader of the Free World", noting that Johnson "laid down a marker for a GOP that rejects U.S. decline and retreat abroad" in a recent speech at the Hudson Institute. The article argues that he is pushing his party in the direction of Ronald Reagan.
December 2024: Spoke with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te
In December 2024, Johnson spoke with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during a stopover in Hawaii.
2024: Endorsement of Trump's presidential campaign
In 2024, Johnson endorsed Donald Trump's campaign for president, and Trump endorsed Johnson, highlighting their close alliance since 2017.
2024: Opposition to warrant requirement for FISA
In 2024, Johnson opposed a new warrant requirement for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), citing classified briefings that convinced him of its importance to national security, despite previous criticisms.
2024: Won Reelection with 86% of Votes
In 2024, Johnson won reelection with 262,821 votes, representing 86% of the total.
2024: Republicans Maintain Control of the House
In the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained control of the House, flipped control of the U.S. Senate, and won the presidency, resulting in an undivided Republican government.
January 3, 2025: Johnson Reelected as Speaker
On January 3, 2025, the opening day of the 119th Congress, Johnson was reelected speaker on the first ballot. Every House Republican except Thomas Massie voted for Johnson.
March 2025: Criticism of federal judges' injunctions
In March 2025, Johnson criticized federal judges for issuing injunctions against the Trump administration's policies, calling it a "dangerous trend" that violates the separation of powers.
May 2025: Johnson's Response to Questions About Qatari Jet
In May 2025, when asked about the Qatari jet N7478D, Johnson responded, "I'm going to leave it to the administration. They know much more about the details of that, OK? I'm just—it's not my lane."
June 2025: Support for strikes on Iran and opposition to war powers resolution
In June 2025, Johnson supported President Trump's strikes on Iran, while also opposing "a bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent U.S. intervention in Iran".
July 2025: Johnson Adjourns House Early to Prevent Action on Trump and Epstein
In July 2025, Johnson adjourned the House early to prevent action on the relationship of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. During the 2025 shutdown, Johnson refused to call the House into session and was described as having "spent much of the shutdown appearing daily at news conferences" defending Trump and insisting that the House had nothing to do but wait in an effort "to render the House irrelevant".
August 2025: Statement on Jewish people's right to Judea and Samaria
During an August 2025 visit to the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the West Bank, Johnson stated that the "mountains of Judea and Samaria" belong to the Jewish people "by right".
2025: Johnson's Role During Government Shutdown
During the 2025 United States federal government shutdown, Johnson kept the House of Representatives largely in recess and did not hold votes on funding legislation. According to The New York Times, Johnson largely deferred to the president during the second Trump presidency, limiting his control over his members.
2025: Securing Speakership after Trump's endorsement
In 2025, Johnson secured the position of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives after receiving an endorsement from Donald Trump, who directly intervened with holdout votes.
2025: Reelected to Full Term as Speaker of the House
In 2025, Johnson was narrowly reelected to a full term as Speaker of the House.
2025: Johnson Supports Trump's Use of Military for Protests
In May 2025, Johnson supported Trump's use of the National Guard and Marines to quell the 2025 Los Angeles protests. He also suggested that California governor Gavin Newsom should be "tarred and feathered."
March 2026: Support for Joint Israeli-U.S. Strikes Against Iran
In March 2026, Johnson voiced support for joint Israeli-U.S. strikes against Iran, arguing for U.S. involvement as a "defensive measure" to manage the potential fallout from an imminent Israeli strike.
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