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 since 2017. He is in his fifth term in the House.

Sections (6)

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

January 30, 1972: Mike Johnson's Birth

On January 30, 1972, James Michael Johnson, now known as Mike Johnson, was born. He is currently serving as the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Others born on this day/year

1984: Father's Injury

In 1984, Mike Johnson's father, Pat Johnson, was severely injured and disabled in a fire while serving with the Shreveport Fire Department. A fellow firefighter died in the fire. Pat Johnson then became a HazMat consultant and co-founded the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation.

1995: Graduation 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: Graduation from Louisiana State's Paul M. Hebert Law Center

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

May 1, 1999: Married Kelly Renee Lary

On May 1, 1999, Mike Johnson married Kelly Renee Lary. They reside in Benton, Louisiana.

2003: Opposed Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas

In 2003, Mike Johnson opposed the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which ruled that criminal punishment of private sexual conduct between consenting adults is unconstitutional. He wrote that "States have many legitimate grounds to proscribe same-sex deviate sexual intercourse."

2003: Wrote article opposing same-sex marriage

In a 2003 article, Mike Johnson wrote that legalizing same-sex marriage could jeopardize the country's "entire democratic system". He also stated that homosexuals are capable of changing their "abnormal lifestyles".

2004: Service on Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

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

2004: Defended Louisiana Amendment 1

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

2005: Johnson Promotes Covenant Marriages on Good Morning America

In 2005, Johnson appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to promote covenant marriages, which make divorce more difficult, emphasizing his support for marriage and fidelity.

2005: Campained against GLSEN's Day of Silence

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

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: Resignation from Pressler School of Law

In August 2012, Mike Johnson resigned from his position at Pressler School of Law, which never opened. This resignation was later blamed for the school's failure.

2012: End of Service on Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

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

April 2015: Proposed Marriage and Conscience Act

In April 2015, Mike Johnson proposed the Marriage and Conscience Act in Louisiana, which aimed to protect individuals and entities with beliefs about marriage. The bill was criticized as discriminatory, and faced opposition from various groups and politicians.

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. Governor Jindal then issued an executive order to enforce its intent.

2015: Johnson Blames Abortions for School Shootings

In 2015, Johnson blamed abortions and the "breakup [of] the nuclear family" for school shootings, arguing that devaluing life leads to such violence. He also led an anti-abortion "Life March" in Shreveport-Bossier City in both 2015 and 2016.

2015: Johnson Criticizes Donald Trump's Character

In 2015, Johnson wrote on Facebook that Donald Trump lacked the character and moral center needed in the White House, fearing he would break more things than he fixes and lacked the demeanor to be President.

2015: Professor at Liberty University

In 2015, Mike Johnson began working as a professor at Liberty University.

2015: Founded Freedom Guard

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

2015: Elected to Louisiana House of Representatives

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

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, which had been held by John Fleming. Johnson later won the election.

September 2016: Summarized Legal Career

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

2016: Johnson Leads Anti-Abortion "Life March"

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

2016: Delivered sermon linking evolution to mass shootings

In 2016, Mike Johnson delivered a sermon that connected the teaching of evolution to the causes of mass shootings, arguing that it devalues the sanctity of life.

2016: Opposed expansion of medical marijuana in Louisiana

In 2016, Mike Johnson opposed the expansion of medical marijuana in Louisiana, citing the American Epilepsy Society's studies that medical marijuana can worsen some conditions like epilepsy.

2016: Proponent of Amending the Constitution

In 2016, Mike Johnson was a proponent of amending the United States Constitution at a national convention. He led the Louisiana House in petitioning Congress for a "Convention of States" and held hearings on the proposal in Congress.

2016: Father's Death

In 2016, Mike Johnson's father, James Patrick "Pat" Johnson, passed away. Johnson mentioned he was the product of an unplanned pregnancy and his parents were teenagers when he was born, later divorcing after 23 years of marriage.

January 3, 2017: Sworn into Office as Member of Congress

On January 3, 2017, Mike Johnson was sworn into office as a member of Congress. He has since served in various roles, including deputy whip for House Republicans, and as a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee.

December 2017: Johnson Votes 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, stating the importance of the tax reform to strengthen the U.S. economy and restore economic mobility.

2017: Johnson Questions Scientific Consensus on Climate Change

During a town hall in 2017, Johnson stated that he believed that Earth's climate was changing but questioned the scientific consensus that human activity causes climate change.

2017: Supported Trump's immigration ban executive order

In 2017, Mike Johnson supported President Trump's executive order that prohibited immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, asserting it was not a religious ban but a measure to protect the homeland.

2017: Voted for the 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 Requires Cutting Social Programs

In 2017, during a House Judiciary Committee meeting, Johnson argued that Roe v. Wade necessitated cutting social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid due to the perceived economic impact of abortion on the labor force.

2017: Johnson begins working closely with Donald Trump

Since 2017, Johnson and Trump have worked closely together.

April 2018: Argued for student-led prayer in public schools

In April 2018, Mike Johnson, along with Republican state Attorney General Jeff Landry and actor Kirk Cameron, argued under the First Amendment for student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools.

2018: Johnson Prioritizes Entitlement Reform

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

2018: Won Second House Term

In 2018, Mike Johnson won a second House term, defeating Democratic nominee Ryan Trundle with 64% of the vote.

2019: Chaired Republican Study Committee

From 2019, Mike Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee.

2019: Spearheaded effort to replace the ACA

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

2019: Johnson Defends Trump During Mueller Investigation

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

2019: Johnson Defends Trump During First Impeachment

In 2019, during the first impeachment of Donald Trump, Johnson defended Trump and advised White House officials to ignore Congressional subpoenas, claiming "legitimate executive privilege in legal immunity".

February 2020: Visited Israel with 12Tribe Films Foundation

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

November 2020: Johnson Urges Trump to Pursue Legal Remedies in 2020 Election

In early November 2020, after the 2020 United States presidential election was called in favor of Joe Biden, Johnson stated that he spoke to Trump twice, urging him to exhaust every available legal remedy to restore Americans' trust in the fairness of the election system and ensure that all instances of fraud and illegality are investigated and prosecuted.

November 17, 2020: Johnson Claims Dominion Voting Machines Rigged

On November 17, 2020, Johnson claimed that Dominion voting machines were rigged with software from Hugo Chávez's Venezuela. By October 2022, he 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 challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

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 60% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Kenny Houston.

2020: Co-authored national security report on China trade

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

January 2021: Johnson Objects to Certifying 2020 Election Results

During the January 2021 United States Electoral College vote count, Johnson was among 120 U.S. representatives who objected to certifying the 2020 presidential election results from Arizona and Pennsylvania. He was called the "most important architect" of the objections, arguing that state officials had violated the Constitution by relaxing voting restrictions without consulting state legislatures.

May 19, 2021: Johnson Votes Against Commission to Investigate January 6 Capitol Storming

On May 19, 2021, Johnson and the other seven Republican House leaders voted against establishing a national commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, storming of the United States Capitol.

2021: Served as Vice Chair of House Republican Conference

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

2021: Johnson Co-Sponsors Bills to Ban Abortion Nationwide

In 2021, Johnson co-sponsored bills aiming to ban abortion nationwide, including 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. These bills included criminal penalties for doctors performing abortions.

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

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

February 2022: Condemned Russian invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, Mike Johnson condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and advocated for economic sanctions against Russia and its exclusion from global commerce and international institutions.

March 2022: Podcast Launch

In March 2022, Mike Johnson and his wife launched the "Truth Be Told" podcast, where they discuss public affairs and other topics from a Christian viewpoint, emphasizing the role of faith in the United States' success.

April 2022: Voted for Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022

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

2022: Proposed as Speaker of the House Candidate

After the 2022 midterm elections, Representative Andy Biggs proposed Mike Johnson as a possible compromise candidate for Speaker of the House, after members of the House Freedom Caucus opposed Kevin McCarthy's bid for the speakership.

2022: Guest Host of Washington Watch

From roughly 2015 to 2022, Mike Johnson was an occasional guest host of Tony Perkins's radio talk show Washington Watch.

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. The bill has been compared to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, commonly referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" law.

2022: Won Reelection Unopposed

In 2022, Mike Johnson won reelection unopposed.

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

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

February 2023: Demanded transparency in Ukraine aid spending

In February 2023, Mike Johnson stated that American taxpayers deserved transparency from the Ukrainian government regarding the use of over $100 billion in aid sent to Ukraine.

July 2023: Spoke against gender-affirming care for children

At a July 2023 hearing on transgender youth, Mike Johnson spoke against allowing children to receive gender-affirming care, stating the legal system protects children from abuse and harm. He has also co-sponsored legislation to make providing gender-affirming care to minors a felony.

October 3, 2023: Suggested as Potential Speaker Replacement

After Kevin McCarthy was removed from the position of speaker of the House on October 3, 2023, Representative Matt Gaetz suggested Mike Johnson 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 26, 2023: Met with Prime Minister and President Biden

On October 26, 2023, Mike Johnson, as Speaker, met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and President Joe Biden. He also attended a bipartisan briefing on funding requests for aid to Ukraine and Israel.

November 2, 2023: House passed Johnson-supported bill to give Israel aid

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

November 14, 2023: Called calls for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war "outrageous"

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

December 2023: Conditioned Ukraine aid on border security measures

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

2023: Introduced legislation to tighten asylum system

As of 2023, Mike Johnson had introduced legislation three times aimed at tightening the asylum system, including raising the standard for undocumented immigrants to prove their fear of persecution.

2023: Voted against decriminalization of marijuana

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

2023: Introduced bills about China

Before 2023, Mike Johnson introduced two bills regarding China: one to ban former members of Congress from lobbying for communist entities, and another to prevent foreign governments from funding litigation in U.S. courts.

2023: AIPAC was Johnson's largest financial donor

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

2023: CNN reported on Johnson's anti-gay language

In 2023, CNN's Andrew Kaczynski reported that Mike Johnson had a history of harsh anti-gay language from his time as an attorney for a socially conservative legal group in the mid-2000s, including editorials in The Shreveport Times calling homosexuality "inherently unnatural" and a "dangerous lifestyle".

2023: Became Chair of House Judiciary Subcommittee

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

2023: Co-sponsored legislation declaring life begins at conception

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

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

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

January 7, 2024: Congressional Appropriators Reached Spending Agreement

On January 7, 2024, congressional appropriators reached an agreement on the topline spending levels for 2024. Mike Johnson faced pressure to abandon the deal, but clarified that he hadn't done so.

January 2024: Opposed Senate border security and immigration bill

In January 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a bipartisan, Senate Republican-backed border security and immigration bill that included funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. He discussed immigration policy frequently with Trump during border negotiations.

January 2024: Opposed Senate border security package including Ukraine aid

In January 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a bipartisan, Senate Republican-sponsored border security package that included aid for Ukraine and other U.S. allies. 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. Mike Johnson championed the impeachment resolution.

March 6, 2024: House Passes $459 Billion Spending Package

On March 6, 2024, the House of Representatives passed a $459 billion spending package, which included six of the twelve appropriations bills, funding various departments and agencies. However, it faced opposition from the Republican conference's right wing, who argued that it lacked substantial 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.

April 2024: Johnson Puts Forward Legislative Package Providing Aid

In April 2024, Johnson introduced a legislative package that included separate bills to provide aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine. These bills passed Congress with bipartisan support and were signed into law by President Biden. The package also forced TikTok to divest from ByteDance and allowed the U.S. government to fund the Ukrainian war effort with seized Russian assets.

April 2024: Criticized pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. university campuses

In April 2024, Mike Johnson criticized pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. university campuses and stated that Congress would not be silent as Jewish students were "expected to run for their lives".

April 2024: Put forward $61 billion aid package for Ukraine

In April 2024, Mike Johnson put forward a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine without border-related provisions. This package received bipartisan support in Congress and was signed into law by President Biden.

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

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 Ukraine.

May 2024: Politico Highlights Johnson's Alignment with Trump and Conservative Stance

In May 2024, Politico noted that Johnson had aligned himself with former President Trump and fortified his reputation as an authentic movement conservative. He was also praised for his ability to handle his members and keep his word.

May 2024: Failed Effort to Oust from Speakership

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

May 2024: Johnson Praised as One of the Most Consequential House Speakers

In May 2024, conservative columnist Marc Thiessen wrote in The Washington Post that Johnson had become one of the most consequential and effective House speakers in a generation, despite presiding over a small House majority.

May 2024: Johnson States Abortion Policy is a State Issue

In May 2024, following the Dobbs decision, Johnson stated that abortion policy was the responsibility of individual states and indicated he would not try to pass a nationwide abortion ban.

July 2024: Promised tough policies on China

In July 2024, Mike Johnson pledged to pass bills with tough policies on China, stating that "China poses the greatest threat to global peace" during a speech at the Hudson Institute.

July 2024: Wall Street Journal Praises Johnson as Leader of the Free World

In July 2024, The Wall Street Journal's editorial board published an opinion piece titled "Mike Johnson, Leader of the Free World," praising his speech at the Hudson Institute and his stance on U.S. foreign policy, comparing him to Ronald Reagan.

October 2024: Johnson Criticizes Federal Response to Hurricane Helene

In October 2024, following Hurricane Helene, Johnson criticized the federal government's response as a "massive failure". He did not call Congress into a special session for hurricane relief, stating it was premature before assessing the damage.

November 2024: Announced new bathroom policy in U.S. Capitol

In November 2024, Mike Johnson announced a new policy regarding bathrooms in the U.S. Capitol, stating that single-sex facilities are reserved 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 Lai Ching-te

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

2024: Johnson Endorses Trump's 2024 Presidential Campaign

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

2024: Opposed new warrant requirement for FISA

In 2024, Mike Johnson opposed a new warrant requirement for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), citing that classified briefings had convinced him that FISA reauthorization was vital to national security.

2024: Won Reelection

In 2024, Mike Johnson won reelection with 86% of the vote, defeating fellow Republican Joshua Morott.

2024: Republicans Maintain Control of House, Flip Senate, Win Presidency

In the 2024 elections, Republicans maintained control of the House, flipped control of the U.S. Senate, and won the presidency, resulting in a unified Republican government.

January 3, 2025: Johnson Reelected Speaker on First Ballot

On January 3, 2025, the opening day of the 119th Congress, Johnson was reelected as speaker on the first ballot. All Republicans voted for him except Thomas Massie, who voted for Tom Emmer, and every Democrat voted for Hakeem Jeffries.

March 2025: Criticized federal judges opposing Trump administration policies

In March 2025, Mike Johnson criticized federal judges for issuing injunctions against the Trump administration's policies, claiming it violated the separation of powers. He also suggested Congress had the power to eliminate district courts.