History of Mike Johnson in Timeline

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Mike Johnson

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.

January 30, 1972: Birth of James Michael Johnson

On January 30, 1972, James Michael Johnson was born. He is an American lawyer and politician who has been serving as the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives since 2023.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Pat Johnson's Injury in Fire

In 1984, Pat Johnson, while working with the Shreveport Fire Department, was severely injured and disabled in a fire at a cold storage facility. A fellow firefighter, Captain Percy R. Johnson, died in that fire.

1989: Average Number of Bills Passed Per Congress

Since 1989, the average number of bills passed per Congress had been 380, with the 118th Congress seeing only 209 bills enacted into law.

1995: Bachelor of Science

In 1995, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Louisiana State University, becoming a first-generation college graduate.

1998: Juris Doctor Degree

In 1998, Johnson graduated from Louisiana State's Paul M. Hebert Law Center with a Juris Doctor degree.

May 1, 1999: Marriage to Kelly Renee Lary

On May 1, 1999, Mike Johnson married Kelly Renee Lary. Their primary residence is in Benton, Louisiana.

2000: Average Number of Bills Passed Per Congress

Since 2000, the average number of bills passed per Congress had been 372, with the 118th Congress seeing only 209 bills enacted into law.

2003: Opposed Lawrence v. Texas Decision

In 2003, Mike Johnson opposed the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which held that criminal punishment of private sexual conduct between consenting adults is unconstitutional. His employer at the time, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), supported maintaining criminalization.

2003: Wrote Articles on Homosexuality

In a 2003 article, Mike Johnson wrote that homosexuals do not meet the criteria for a suspect class under the equal protection clause. He also wrote that legalizing same-sex marriage could put the country's "entire democratic system in jeopardy".

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.

2005: Johnson Promotes Covenant Marriages

In 2005, Johnson appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to promote covenant marriages, saying, "I'm a big proponent of marriage and fidelity and all the things that go with it".

2005: Campaign Against GLSEN's Day of Silence

In 2005, Mike Johnson campaigned against GLSEN's annual anti-bullying Day of Silence, claiming it was cloaking a message that "homosexuality is good for society".

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.

April 2015: Proposed Marriage and Conscience Act

In April 2015, Johnson proposed the Marriage and Conscience Act, which aimed to prevent adverse treatment based on beliefs about marriage. The bill faced criticism for potentially enabling discrimination against same-sex married couples.

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. In response, Governor Jindal issued an executive order to enforce its intent.

2015: Liberty University Professor

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

2015: Johnson Blames Abortions and Family Breakup for School Shootings

In 2015, Johnson blamed abortions and the "breakup [of] the nuclear family" for school shootings, saying, "when you tell a generation of people that life has no value, no meaning, that it's expendable, then you do wind up with school shooters."

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.

2015: Johnson on Donald Trump's Character

In 2015, Johnson wrote on Facebook that "Donald Trump ... lacks the character and the moral center we desperately need again in the White House", adding: "I am afraid he would break more things than he fixes."

2015: Purity Ball Attendance

In 2015, Mike Johnson and his 13-year-old daughter Hannah were featured in a German television story about the purity movement, attending a purity ball.

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: Death of Father

In 2016, James Michael Johnson's father, James Patrick "Pat" Johnson, passed away.

2016: Johnson Leads Anti-Abortion "Life March"

In 2016, Johnson led an anti-abortion "Life March" in Shreveport-Bossier City.

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.

2016: Sermon on Evolution and Mass Shootings

In 2016, Mike Johnson delivered a sermon linking the teaching of evolution to mass shootings, arguing that it devalues human life by promoting a "survival of the fittest" mentality.

2016: Opposition to Medical Cannabis Expansion

In 2016, Mike Johnson opposed the expansion of medical cannabis in Louisiana. He argued that cannabis could worsen conditions like epilepsy, referencing the American Epilepsy Society's findings that it may cause severe dystonic reactions, movement disorders, developmental regression, intractable vomiting, and worsening seizures in children with epilepsy.

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: Johnson Questions Human Cause of Climate Change

During a town hall in 2017, Johnson said that he believed that Earth's climate was changing, but questioned the scientific consensus that humans cause climate change.

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).

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 and thus damaged the economy.

2017: Johnson and Trump Work Closely Together

Since 2017, Johnson and Trump have worked closely together, with Trump calling Johnson "a good man who is trying very hard".

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.

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".

2019: Johnson Defends Trump During First Impeachment

In 2019, during the first impeachment of Donald Trump, Johnson defended Trump and told White House officials to ignore congressional subpoenas. He served as a member of Trump's legal defense team.

February 2020: Visited Israel with 12Tribe Films Foundation

In February 2020, Mike Johnson made a trip to Israel accompanied by the 12Tribe Films Foundation.

November 2020: Johnson Urges Trump to Exhaust Legal Remedies

In early November 2020, after many pollsters and media outlets called the 2020 United States presidential election in favor of Joe Biden over Donald Trump, Johnson said that he spoke to Trump twice, recounting that he urged Trump to "exhaust every available legal remedy to restore Americans' trust in the fairness of our election system".

November 17, 2020: Johnson on Voting Machine Allegations

On November 17, 2020, Johnson stated that there was "a lot of merit" to allegations about voting machines being rigged with software by Dominion and that "a software system that is used all around the country that is suspect because it came from Hugo Chávez's Venezuela".

December 2020: Johnson Leads Amicus Brief Effort

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 results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

2020: Relaxing Restrictions on Mail-In Voting

During the January 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Johnson argued to reject the 2020 election results based on the argument of constitutional infirmity.

2020: Contesting the 2020 Presidential Election

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

2020: Voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results

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

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.

January 2021: Johnson Objects to Electoral College Vote Count

During the January 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Johnson was one of 120 U.S. representatives who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results from both Arizona and Pennsylvania.

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: Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference

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

2021: Johnson Co-Sponsors Anti-Abortion Bills

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. All three bills would impose criminal penalties.

2021: Johnson Serves on Trump's Legal Defense Team

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

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.

October 2022: Johnson Denies Supporting Claims of Massive Fraud

By October 2022, Johnson said that he had never supported claims that there was massive fraud in the 2020 election.

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.

January 2023: House Passes Resolution Introduced by Johnson

In January 2023, the House passed a resolution Johnson introduced that condemned "vandalism, violence, and destruction against pro-life facilities, groups, and churches", and added that the House "recognizes the sanctity of life and the important role pro-life facilities, groups, and churches play in supporting pregnant women, infants, and families".

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 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: 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: Votes Against Cannabis Decriminalization

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

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: AIPAC as Largest Financial Donor

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

2023: Controversy over Anti-Gay Language

In 2023, CNN's Andrew Kaczynski reported that Mike Johnson had a history of anti-gay language from his time as an attorney, citing editorials he wrote in the early 2000s. Johnson responded by saying he doesn't remember some of them and was defending state marriage amendments as a litigator.

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: Johnson Says Abortion Policy is the Purview of the States

In May 2024, Johnson said that abortion policy was the purview of the states and that he would not try to pass a nationwide abortion ban.

May 2024: Politico on Johnson's Alignment with Trump

In May 2024, Politico wrote that Johnson had aligned himself with former President Trump "while not being treated like a golden retriever" and that he had "fortified his reputation in consequential ways," describing him as an authentic movement conservative who has been successful in isolating his critics and deft in handling his members.

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.

May 2024: Thiessen on Johnson's Speakership

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 Johnson had become "one of the most effective speakers ever".

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."

July 2024: Wall Street Journal on Johnson's Leadership

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece titled "Mike Johnson, Leader of the Free World", writing that Johnson "laid down a marker for a GOP that rejects U.S. decline and retreat abroad... He is pushing his party in the direction of Ronald Reagan".

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: Johnson Endorses Trump's 2024 Campaign

In 2024, Johnson endorsed Trump's 2024 campaign for president. Johnson and Trump are considered close allies.

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.

July 2025: Johnson Adjourns House Early

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.

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.

2025: Re-elected as Speaker of the House

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

2025: Karni on Johnson's Relationship with Trump

In 2025, New York Times journalist Annie Karni said that Johnson largely deferred his role to the president during the second Trump presidency by not holding oversight hearings and holding the House out of session during the 2025 United States federal government shutdown.

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, also suggesting that California governor Gavin Newsom should be "tarred and feathered."