Ethan Walker
Mike Johnson, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, was elected Speaker of the House on October 25, 2023. Johnson, a practicing Christian, has been described as a theocrat by some commentators, who claim that he wishes to impose his faith on others. Johnson has worked with several Christian groups and has expressed socially conservative views on abortion, same-sex marriage, and LGBTQ+ rights. While Johnson's religious views have been a source of controversy, he has also been praised by some for his effectiveness as Speaker of the House.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mike Johnson |
| Position | Speaker of the United States House of Representatives |
| Religion | Christian |
| Party | Republican |
| State | Louisiana |
| Constituency | Louisiana's 4th congressional district |
| Age | 51 |
| Birth date | January 30, 1972 |
| Education | Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University |
| Previous work experience | Attorney in private practice, former dean of a small Baptist law school, senior lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) |
| Committee memberships | House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, House Armed Services Committee |
| Caucus memberships | House Freedom Caucus |
| Legislative priorities | Abortion restrictions, opposition to same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights, support for Israel, addressing the migrant and fentanyl crises, reducing federal spending and inflation |
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What You'll Learn
Mike Johnson's religious beliefs
Mike Johnson, the newly elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, is a practising Christian. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, has expressed his belief that all authority is granted by God and that leaders are responsible to those they govern. In his first address as speaker, he quoted the Bible, stating, "The Bible is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority." Johnson's religious views have been described as far-right, and he has supported legislation that aligns with these beliefs, such as bills to ban abortion and restrict LGBTQ+ rights.
Johnson has worked closely with Christian groups such as Answers in Genesis, Louisiana Family Forum, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Focus on the Family. He also has a history of involvement with religious organizations before entering politics. Notably, he was chosen to be the dean of a small Baptist law school, which ultimately did not come to fruition. Johnson's affiliation with this religious institution, despite it never opening its doors, provides insight into his religious beliefs and values.
As a social conservative, Johnson's policy decisions are influenced by his religious convictions. He supported efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and has taken a strong stance against abortion, characterizing it as a state-level issue following the Dobbs decision. Johnson's views on abortion are aligned with those of his fellow Republicans, who have instituted stringent religious litmus tests for their candidates.
In addition to his views on abortion, Johnson has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights. His stance on these issues is not surprising given his association with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian legal advocacy group. Johnson worked for the ADF before entering politics, and the organization has played a significant role in shaping legal arguments and Supreme Court decisions that align with their religious agenda.
Johnson's religious beliefs have raised concerns about his commitment to democracy and the separation of church and state. Critics argue that he and his supporters aim to impose their religious views on others, threatening the peaceful coexistence of thousands of faiths in the United States. Johnson's statement that the country is a "biblical" republic, rather than a democracy, further fuels these concerns.
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Johnson's political career
Mike Johnson's political career began in 2015 when he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. He served in this body until 2017. In 2016, he was first elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district, and he has been a member of the Republican Party in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017. Johnson has served in his fifth House term.
Before entering politics, Johnson worked as an attorney in private practice. He also worked for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a conservative Christian legal advocacy group. Johnson has worked closely with other Christian groups, including Answers in Genesis, Louisiana Family Forum, and Focus on the Family. He was a senior lawyer for the extremist Alliance Defending Fund from 2002 to 2010, which played a significant role in annulling Roe v. Wade. Johnson also sat on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention between 2004 and 2012.
During his time in Congress, Johnson has been a social conservative. He supported bills to ban abortion nationwide and has opposed Democrat efforts to institute a national law allowing abortion. He has also introduced pro-free-speech legislation and worked to address the migrant and fentanyl crises, the cost of living, and the nation's debt. Johnson has served as a deputy whip for House Republicans, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, and as a member of the Armed Services Committee. He chaired the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of conservatives in Congress, from 2019 to 2021, and was vice-chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023.
In 2023, Johnson became chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. He was also a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Johnson contested the results of the 2020 presidential election on the House floor and in court and was among 147 Republicans who voted to overturn them.
On October 25, 2023, Johnson was elected Speaker of the House, replacing Kevin McCarthy. Johnson was narrowly re-elected to a full term as speaker in 2025. As Speaker, Johnson has worked to protect former President Donald Trump, avoiding votes on releasing government files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case and preventing the House from exercising its will on Epstein file disclosures. Johnson has also supported the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, stating that it would allow for the unearthing of documents and offering a larger platform to deliver facts to the American people.
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Johnson's views on abortion
Mike Johnson, the newly elected Speaker of the House, is a conservative Republican with strong religious beliefs and values. Johnson has been described as a theocrat by some, and his views on abortion are informed by his faith.
Johnson is a staunch opponent of abortion and has been identified as one of the most anti-abortion lawmakers in Congress. He has supported and introduced legislation to restrict and ban abortion at both state and federal levels. Johnson has co-sponsored several 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. These bills propose criminal penalties, including potential prison sentences of up to five years for doctors who perform abortions. Johnson has also opposed Democrat efforts to institute a national law allowing abortion throughout pregnancy.
In 2015, Johnson went as far as to blame abortions for school shootings, stating that 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." Johnson has also led an anti-abortion "Life March" and opposed Roe v. Wade, supporting the Supreme Court's decision to annul it. He has argued that abortion reduces the labour force and damages the economy, necessitating cuts to social programs. Johnson's views extend to birth control and emergency contraception, which he considers to be forms of abortion. He has fought to block access to birth control and has voted against efforts to expand or fund family planning services.
Johnson's stance on abortion is deeply rooted in his religious beliefs, and he has stated that he intends to govern according to his interpretation of the Bible. He is a believer in scriptural originalism, the view that the Bible is the truth and the sole legitimate source for public policy. Johnson's religious convictions have led him to impose his faith on others, causing concern for the separation of church and state.
Despite his strong anti-abortion stance, Johnson has stated that he would not try to pass a nationwide abortion ban, suggesting that abortion policy is the purview of the states. However, he continues to advocate for restrictive abortion legislation and has included anti-abortion provisions in defence bills.
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Johnson's stance on LGBTQ+ rights
Mike Johnson, the newly elected Speaker of the House, is a practicing Christian who believes that the Bible is the truth and the sole legitimate source for public policy. He has been described as a believer in scriptural originalism and has made statements suggesting that he wishes to impose his faith on others. Johnson has also advanced extreme views as an attorney and legislator, defending his anti-LGBTQ+ stance by stating that he is a "Bible-believing Christian".
Johnson's work for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)—an organisation that has been labelled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)—has attracted widespread attention. The ADF has supported the recriminalisation of sexual acts between consenting LGBTQ+ adults and opposed privacy rights, abortion, and birth control. Johnson has called same-sex marriage "the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy that could doom even the strongest republic", and he has also stated that there is no clear right to sodomy in the constitution.
In addition to his work with the ADF, Johnson played a role in instituting stringent religious litmus tests for Republican candidates and has been a vocal supporter of pro-life amendments, such as banning the military from paying service members' abortion travel expenses. Johnson's extreme views on LGBTQ+ rights are informed by his religious beliefs and his interpretation of the Bible. He has been criticised for attempting to impose his religious views on others and for perverting the American constitution to justify his stance.
Despite facing widespread criticism for his anti-LGBTQ+ views, Johnson has defended his stance by standing firmly by his religious beliefs. He has stated that he will continue to make decisions and create policies based on his interpretation of the Bible, regardless of the criticism he receives. Johnson's elevation to the speakership has been hailed as a victory for the religious right in its efforts to turn the US government into a theocracy.
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Johnson's opinion on the Epstein files
Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, was elected Speaker of the House on October 25, 2023. Johnson is a practicing Christian who has made controversial statements about his wish to impose his religious beliefs on others.
Now, onto Johnson's opinions on the Epstein files:
Johnson has been under pressure to disclose information about Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and financier who died in prison in 2019. Epstein had a close relationship with former President Donald Trump, and there are a significant number of documents from the government's investigation of Epstein that have not been made public. Johnson has expressed concern about protecting the identities of the victims, many of whom were minors, and has called efforts to release the files reckless. He has also defended adjourning the House of Representatives early to avoid a vote on releasing the files, stating that the legislation in question could harm the victims.
On the possibility of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former partner-in-crime, Johnson expressed strong opposition, stating that she deserved a life sentence at least for her involvement in the "unspeakable crimes." He also emphasized the need for independent evidence and files related to the case, acknowledging the importance of unearthing the truth.
Johnson's stance on the Epstein files reflects his conservative values and concern for the protection of victims. However, it has also drawn criticism from those who accuse him and other Republicans of attempting to cover up the truth and protect Trump.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mike Johnson is the 56th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives as of 2023.
Mike Johnson is a practicing Christian. He was chosen to be the dean of a small Baptist law school, which ultimately collapsed without enrolling students or opening its doors.
Mike Johnson is a member of the Republican Party.
Johnson supported bills to ban abortion nationwide. He also supported this year's pro-life amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which banned the military from paying for service members' abortion travel expenses.
Johnson has been described as a "theocrat" by The Guardian, who has religiously motivated, far-right views on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights.
