Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson, a conservative who opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriages, has been elected House Speaker, becoming the first speaker from Louisiana and achieving two top leadership positions in the House for Louisianans.
Political milestones: Johnson’s election is celebrated by Louisiana’s GOP and marks historical gains in leadership for the state.
* He is the first House speaker from Louisiana and the first from the South since Georgia Republican Newt Gingrich held the post from 1995 to 1999.
* His election signifies that two of the three top leadership positions in the House — speaker and majority leader — are held by Louisianans, with Republican Rep. Steve Scalise as the House majority leader.
Legislative vision and promises: Johnson has vowed to decentralize power in the House and involve members more in the processes.
* Upon election, he stated that his office would be known for members having more influence and involvement.
* Notably, he won the speakership in a single floor vote after three other Republican nominees failed to be elected.
Policy concerns and affiliations: Johnson’s conservative policies and close associations with former President Donald Trump have raised concerns.
* He is known for restricting access to abortions and proposing a bill seen as a national “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which faced criticism from the Human Rights Campaign advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
* Johnson, an ally of Trump, voted against certifying the 2020 election results, participated in Trump’s first impeachment inquiry defense team, and supported a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in four swing states.
A looming challenge: With less than a month to fund the government and avoid a November shutdown, Johnson is expected to work closely with other GOP leaders.
* In his commitment, Johnson stated via X: “We will advance a comprehensive conservative policy agenda, combat the harmful policies of the Biden Administration, and support our allies abroad. And we will restore sanity to a government desperately in need of it. Let’s get back to work.”
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