Mike Johnson Elected New House Speaker in Historic Election, Wiesemeyer Says

In a historic and contentious election, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, writes Pro Farmer analyst Jim Wiesemeyer in Policy Updates. 

"This decision marks a significant shift to the right for the Republican party and brings an end to a tumultuous three-week succession battle that had paralyzed legislative activities. The House voted 220 to 209 in favor of Johnson, following 22 days of deliberation, 14 candidates, four nominees and three floor votes. Johnson's win put the House in the unprecedented situation of having both chamber’s top leaders representing the same state, with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) remaining the No. 2 Republican. His election as Speaker comes after the Republican Party rejected the nominations of its second- and third-ranking leaders to succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)," Wiesemeyer explains.

Johnson, a 51-year-old congressman from Louisiana, sharpened his messaging skills in the courtroom and in appearances as a guest host on Louisiana radio shows before he came to Washington. He entered politics as a state lawmaker, Wiesemeyer says. A constitutional lawyer, he was a member of the House Judiciary and Armed Services panels. 

"He has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. His elevation to the position of Speaker underscores the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party, as it grapples with divisions between the emerging populist wing aligned with Trump and establishment Republicans," Wiesemeyer says. "He is the least experienced Speaker in 140 years, with just four terms in the House and no senior leadership roles or full committee chairmanships under his belt."

The son of a firefighter, Johnson entered Congress following his 2016 election, coinciding with Trump's presidential victory. He was the top Republican vote-getter in the 2016 primary when he was first elected, and went on to win the general election runoff by 30 percentage points, Wiesemeyer says. Johnson won his next two races with nearly two-thirds of the vote and was ran unopposed last year. 

In his speech on the House floor, Johnson emphasized his religious faith and commitment to conservative principles while acknowledging the necessity of compromise in legislative processes. Johnson outlined seven "core principles" of conservatism in his first speech from the speaker's dais: "Individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets and human dignity."

“The Meat Institute congratulates Speaker Johnson on his election and looks forward to working with him on issues important to the meat and poultry industry,” Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said in a release. “Our members are a critical part of the food value chain and call on Speaker Johnson to ensure the federal government remains funded and able to address key challenges especially persistent labor shortages and inflation.”

Johnson's tenure as Speaker begins amid ongoing budget disputes, with his staunch advocacy for spending cuts and resistance to short-term funding extensions potentially influencing negotiations to avert a government shutdown next month, Wisemeyer points out. 

"There will or should be a brief 'honeymoon' for Johnson, but recent events have shown that the duration of any such goodwill among GOP rebels in the House may be short-lived. However, his history shows he is practical and unlike some in his party, he has to realize that Democrats control the Senate and the White House and thus dictating provisions of key legislation usually goes nowhere," he adds.

According to Wiesemeyer, one Capitol Hill veteran observer said, “I don’t mind the House majority trying to negotiate from a position of strength by passing legislation in a form it likes. That’s how it is done. But having wholly unrealistic expectations with no means of achieving them but tilting at windmills just the same and embarrassing the country, the institution, and the party — and possibly putting the country in danger — is so incredibly reckless. Johnson is not that type. Hopefully he can manage the handful that is.”