History of Mike Johnson in Timeline
Mike Johnson is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the 56th Speaker of the House since 2023. A Republican, he has represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the House of Representatives since 2017, now in his fifth term.
January 30, 1972: Birth of Mike Johnson
On January 30, 1972, James Michael Johnson was born. He would later become a lawyer, politician, and the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
1984: Father Injured in Fire
In 1984, Mike Johnson's father, Pat Johnson, was severely injured in a fire while serving with the Shreveport Fire Department, where a fellow firefighter died.
1995: Graduated from Louisiana State University
In 1995, Mike Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Louisiana State University, becoming a first-generation college graduate.
1998: Graduated from Louisiana State University Law Center
In 1998, Mike 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.
2003: Opposition to Lawrence v. Texas
In 2003, Mike Johnson opposed the U.S. Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas, which invalidated most criminal punishments for private sexual conduct between consenting adults. Johnson's employer at the time, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), supported maintaining criminalization.
2003: Article on Homosexuality and Equal Protection
In a 2003 article, Mike Johnson wrote that homosexuals do not meet the criteria for a suspect class under the equal protection clause and that legalizing same-sex marriage could jeopardize the country's democratic system.
2004: Joined Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
In 2004, Mike Johnson became a member of 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 within the Louisiana Constitution, against legal challenges.
2005: Promotion of Covenant Marriages
In 2005, Johnson appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to promote covenant marriages, advocating for marriage, fidelity, and related values.
2005: Campaign Against GLSEN's Day of Silence
In 2005, Mike Johnson campaigned against GLSEN's annual anti-bullying Day of Silence, arguing it promotes homosexuality.
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 his position at Pressler School of Law at Louisiana College. The law school never opened.
2012: Left Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
In 2012, Mike Johnson completed his service on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, a role he had held since 2004.
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' and entities' beliefs about marriage, drawing 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 Mike Johnson's Marriage and Conscience Act, effectively ending its chances of becoming law.
2015: Started Teaching at Liberty University
Around 2015, Mike Johnson started teaching classes at Liberty University's Helms School of Government.
2015: Comments on School Shootings and Abortion
In 2015, Johnson blamed abortions and the "breakup [of] the nuclear family" for school shootings, asserting that devaluing life leads to such violence. In 2015 and 2016, he also led an anti-abortion "Life March" in Shreveport-Bossier City.
2015: Criticism of Donald Trump
In 2015, Johnson wrote on Facebook that "Donald Trump ... lacks the character and the moral center we desperately need again in the White House".
2015: Featured at Purity Ball
In 2015, Mike Johnson and his then 13-year-old daughter Hannah were featured in a German television story about the purity movement, attending a purity ball.
2015: Founded Freedom Guard
In 2015, Mike Johnson founded Freedom Guard, a nonprofit law firm focused on religious liberty litigation, where he served as chief counsel.
2015: Elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives
In 2015, Mike Johnson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives after Jeff R. Thompson vacated the seat.
February 10, 2016: Announced Candidacy for 4th Congressional District Seat
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 focusing on defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, biblical values, and traditional marriage.
2016: Johnson leads "Life March" in Shreveport-Bossier City
In 2015 and 2016, Mike Johnson led an anti-abortion "Life March" in Shreveport-Bossier City.
2016: Sermon Linking Evolution to Mass Shootings
In 2016, Mike Johnson delivered a sermon connecting the teaching of evolution to mass shootings, claiming it promotes a lack of moral values and survival of the fittest mentality.
2016: Opposition to Expansion of Medical Cannabis in Louisiana
In 2016, Mike Johnson opposed the expansion of medical cannabis in Louisiana, citing potential adverse effects, especially for children with epilepsy.
2016: Advocated for Constitutional Convention
In 2016, Mike Johnson was a strong proponent of amending the United States Constitution at a national convention, helping the Louisiana House petition Congress to call a "Convention of States."
2016: Elected to Represent Louisiana's 4th Congressional District
In 2016, Mike Johnson was first elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district.
2016: Father Died
In 2016, Mike Johnson's father, James Patrick "Pat" Johnson, passed away.
January 3, 2017: Sworn into Congress
On January 3, 2017, Mike Johnson was sworn into office as a member of Congress, marking the start of his service in the House of Representatives.
December 2017: Vote for Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In December 2017, Johnson voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, calling the economy "stunted" and a "burden" on Americans.
2017: Views on Climate Change
During a town hall in 2017, Johnson acknowledged that Earth's climate was changing, but he questioned the scientific consensus that climate change is caused by humans.
2017: Elected to Congress
In 2017, James Michael Johnson began representing Louisiana's 4th congressional district in the House, starting his fifth term.
2017: Left Louisiana House of Representatives
In 2017, Mike Johnson departed from the Louisiana House of Representatives after being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2017: Support for Trump's Immigration Executive Order
In 2017, Mike Johnson expressed his support for President Trump's executive order that prohibited immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, emphasizing it as a measure to protect the homeland without banning any religion.
2017: Vote 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: Arguments against Roe v. Wade
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: Close Allies since 2017
Since 2017 Johnson and Trump have worked closely together and are considered close allies.
April 2018: Advocated for student-led prayer in public schools
In April 2018, Mike Johnson collaborated with Republican state Attorney General Jeff Landry and Christian actor Kirk Cameron to advocate for student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools, citing First Amendment rights.
2018: Entitlement Reform as 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 secured his second term in the House of Representatives, defeating Democratic nominee Ryan Trundle.
2019: Chaired the Republican Study Committee
From 2019, Mike Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee.
2019: Opposition to Raise the Wage Act
In 2019, Johnson opposed the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, calling it "job-crushing legislation".
2019: Spearheaded effort to replace ACA
In 2019, as chair of the Republican Study Committee, Mike Johnson spearheaded an effort to replace the ACA. The committee's plan included rescinding the ACA's Medicaid expansion.
2019: Defense of 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: Defense of 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 also served as a member of Trump's legal defense team.
February 2020: Visit to Israel with 12Tribe Films Foundation
In February 2020, Mike Johnson traveled to Israel with the 12Tribe Films Foundation.
November 2020: Johnson Urges Trump to Pursue Legal Remedies
In early November 2020, after the 2020 United States presidential election was called in favor of Joe Biden, Johnson said he spoke to Trump twice. He urged Trump to "exhaust every available legal remedy" and was heartened by Trump's intention to ensure "that all instances of fraud and illegality are investigated and prosecuted".
November 17, 2020: Allegations about Voting Machines
On November 17, 2020, Johnson voiced support for allegations about voting machines being rigged by Dominion software linked to Hugo Chávez's Venezuela, echoing Trump's claims of a rigged election.
December 2020: Support for Texas v. Pennsylvania
In December 2020, Johnson spearheaded an effort involving 126 Republican U.S. representatives who signed an amicus brief backing Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit challenging the 2020 presidential election results, but the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
2020: Johnson argues to reject the results of the 2020 election
In 2020, Johnson's argument was that certain 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.
2020: Contested the 2020 Presidential Election
In 2020, Mike Johnson contested the results of the 2020 presidential election both on the House floor 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 a third House term with 185,265 votes (60%) to Democratic nominee Kenny Houston's 78,157 votes (25%).
2020: Co-authored national security report on China trade issues
In 2020, as the leader of the Republican Study Committee, Mike Johnson co-wrote a national security report that addressed trade issues with China. The report advocated for stricter sanctions on entities associated with the People's Liberation Army and for increased trade with countries like Taiwan, Indonesia, and Mongolia to counterbalance China's influence.
January 2021: Objection to Electoral College Vote Count
During the January 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Johnson was among the U.S. representatives who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results from Arizona and Pennsylvania. Johnson argued to reject the results based on "constitutional infirmity".
May 19, 2021: Vote Against January 6 Commission
On May 19, 2021, Johnson and other Republican House leaders 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, Mike Johnson served as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.
2021: Johnson continues to oppose the Raise the Wage Act
In 2021, Johnson again opposed the Raise the Wage Act.
2021: Co-sponsoring Bills to Ban Abortion
In 2021, Johnson co-sponsored bills such as the Heartbeat Protection Act of 2021 attempting to ban abortion nationwide, which would impose criminal penalties, including potential prison terms, on doctors who perform abortions.
2021: Serving on Trump's Legal Defense Team
In 2021, Johnson served as a member of Trump's legal defense team during the Senate impeachment trial.
March 2022: Co-hosting Truth Be Told Podcast
In March 2022, Mike Johnson and his wife began co-hosting the podcast "Truth Be Told", where they discuss public affairs and other issues from a Christian perspective, emphasizing the importance of faith in the United States' success.
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 retracts claims of massive election fraud
By October 2022, Johnson stated that he had never supported claims that there was massive fraud in the 2020 election.
2022: Proposed as Speaker of the House
After the 2022 midterm elections, Representative Andy Biggs proposed Mike Johnson as a possible compromise candidate for Speaker of the House instead of Republican Conference leader Kevin McCarthy.
2022: Stopped Hosting Washington Watch
Around 2022, Mike Johnson stopped occasionally guest hosting Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch.
2022: Introduction of Stop the Sexualization of Children Act
In 2022, Mike Johnson introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which aimed to prohibit federally funded institutions from mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill has been compared to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.
2022: Won Reelection Unopposed
In 2022, Mike Johnson secured reelection to the House of Representatives unopposed.
January 2023: 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", while also passing bills to assist pregnant women and students.
February 2023: Expressed concern over aid to Ukraine
In February 2023, Mike Johnson voiced concerns about the transparency and accountability of the Ukrainian government regarding the use of over $100 billion in aid from American taxpayers.
July 2023: Opposition to 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, emphasizing the protection of children from abuse and harm. He has also co-sponsored legislation that would make it a felony to provide opposite-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries to minors.
October 3, 2023: Johnson floated as potential Speaker
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: 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, Mike Johnson was elected as the Speaker of the House, succeeding Kevin McCarthy.
October 26, 2023: Met with President Biden for the First Time as Speaker
On October 26, 2023, Mike Johnson met with President Joe Biden for the first time as speaker before attending a bipartisan briefing held at the White House on the administration's proposed funding requests for aid to Ukraine and Israel.
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 Mike Johnson to provide Israel with $14.3 billion in aid.
December 2023: Conditioned aid for Ukraine on border security measures
In December 2023, Mike Johnson stated that further 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: Voted against Decriminalization of Cannabis
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 at preventing former members of the United States Congress from lobbying for communist entities, and another designed to prohibit foreign governments from funding litigation within U.S. courts.
2023: Ended Term as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
By 2023, Mike Johnson ended his term as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.
2023: AIPAC as Largest Financial Donor
In 2023, AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbyist organization, was Mike Johnson's largest financial donor.
2023: CNN Article on Anti-Gay Language
In 2023, Andrew Kaczynski of CNN wrote that Mike Johnson "has a history of harsh anti-gay language from his time as an attorney for a socially conservative legal group in the mid-2000s".
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 the chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government.
2023: Co-sponsored legislation on personhood 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: Left position of Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
In 2023, Mike Johnson departed from his position as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.
January 7, 2024: Appropriators reached agreement on topline spending levels
On January 7, 2024, congressional appropriators reached an agreement on the topline spending levels for 2024, that was not substantially different from the deal McCarthy negotiated during his tenure as speaker. Hardliners attempted to push Johnson to abandon the deal.
January 2024: Opposition to Senate border security and immigration bill
In January 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a bipartisan Senate Republican-backed border security and immigration bill that would have also provided 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.
January 2024: Opposed border security package with aid for Ukraine
In January 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a bipartisan border security package that included aid for Ukraine and other U.S. allies, which was sponsored by Senate Republicans. The bill ultimately failed to pass the Senate.
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, championed by Mike Johnson.
March 6, 2024: House Passes Spending Package
On March 6, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a $459 billion spending package, comprised of six of the twelve appropriations bills. This action faced opposition from the Republican conference due to the absence of significant conservative policy achievements within the bill.
March 7, 2024: Clarification on IVF stance
On March 7, 2024, Mike Johnson clarified that he does not support federal legislation to protect legal access to IVF, saying he believes it is a state issue, while maintaining that IVF "is a remarkable thing and something we ought to preserve and protect".
April 2024: Criticism of pro-Palestinian protests on US university campuses
In April 2024, Mike Johnson criticized pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. university campuses, stating his determination to ensure Congress addresses the safety concerns of Jewish students.
April 2024: Aid Package for Ukraine Passed Congress
In April 2024, Mike Johnson introduced a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine without any border-related provisions. The package received bipartisan support in Congress and was signed into law by President Biden.
April 2024: Legislative Package for Aid
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 was 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
On May 8, 2024, Representative Greene introduced a motion to vacate Johnson's speakership, but the House voted to table the motion, allowing Johnson to remain speaker. The vote was 359 to 43. Democrats who supported Johnson cited his role in providing funding for the federal government and Ukraine.
May 2024: Effort to Oust Johnson from Speakership Failed
An effort to oust Johnson from the speakership in May 2024 failed with two-thirds of the House voting to keep him in office.
May 2024: Politico on Johnson's Alignment with Trump
In May 2024, Politico noted that Johnson aligned himself with former President Trump "while not being treated like a golden retriever" and that he had "fortified his reputation in consequential ways." They also described him as a successful authentic movement conservative, praised by House Republicans for keeping his word and operating in good faith with Democrats.
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".
May 2024: Johnson on Abortion Policy and Nationwide Ban
In May 2024, following the Dobbs 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 tough policies on China
In July 2024, Mike Johnson pledged to pass legislation imposing stringent policies on China, asserting that China poses the greatest threat to global peace during a speech to the Hudson Institute.
July 2024: WSJ on Johnson as Leader of the Free World
In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece titled "Mike Johnson, Leader of the Free World", praising his speech at the Hudson Institute. They wrote that Johnson is pushing his party in the direction of Ronald Reagan, which is correct for the world moment and politically popular.
November 2024: New Bathroom Policy in U.S. Capitol
In November 2024, Mike Johnson announced a new policy regarding bathroom access in the U.S. Capitol, reserving single-sex facilities for individuals of that biological sex. The policy was enacted shortly after the election of Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.
December 2024: Spoke with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te
In December 2024, Mike Johnson engaged in discussions with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during a stopover in Hawaii.
2024: Endorsement of Trump's Presidential Campaign
In 2024, Johnson endorsed Trump's 2024 campaign for president.
2024: Opposition to 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 attending classified briefings and gaining more knowledge about it, convincing him that FISA reauthorization was vital to national security.
2024: Won Reelection
In 2024, Mike Johnson won reelection with 262,821 votes (86%) to fellow Republican Joshua Morott's 43,427 (14%) votes.
2024: Republicans Win Presidency and Senate
In the 2024 elections, the Republican party maintained control of the House, gained control of the U.S. Senate, and won the presidency.
January 3, 2025: Johnson Reelected Speaker
On January 3, 2025, Mike Johnson was reelected as speaker on the first ballot during the opening day of the 119th Congress.
March 2025: Criticism of Federal Judges' Injunctions Against 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 Congress had the power to eliminate entire district courts.
June 2025: Supported Trump's 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.
2025: Reelected as Speaker of the House
In 2025, Mike Johnson was reelected to a full term as Speaker of the House.
2025: Trump's Endorsement and Johnson Securing Speakership
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.
2025: Support for Trump's Use of National Guard
In May 2025, Johnson supported Trump's use of the National Guard and Marines to quell the Los Angeles protests, adding that California governor Gavin Newsom ought to be "tarred and feathered".
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