Mike Johnson: How This Constitutional Lawyer Made It to the Speaker’s Chair From the Halls of Louisiana State College
On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump introduced his help for Mike Johnson to stay as Speaker of the Home, praising his character and dedication.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is an efficient, hard-working, non secular man,” Trump wrote on Reality Social. “He’ll do the fitting factor, and we are going to proceed to WIN. Mike has my Full & Complete Endorsement. MAGA!!!”
In response, Johnson expressed his gratitude for Trump’s endorsement, calling it an honor.“Collectively, we are going to shortly ship in your America First agenda and usher within the new golden age of America. The American individuals demand and deserve that we waste no time. Let’s get to work!” Johnson posted on X (previously Twitter).
Within the grand tapestry of American politics, few tales unravel with as a lot shock and intrigue as that of Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana’s Fourth District. From the halls of Louisiana State College (LSU) to the Speaker’s chair within the Home of Representatives, Johnson’s journey is a unusual mix of sharp authorized acumen, conservative zeal, and an unmistakable knack for being on the proper place on the proper time.
Training: From LSU to Legislation Wizardry
Born on January 30, 1972, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Mike Johnson is the quintessential Southern boy with massive desires. He kickstarted his tutorial journey at Louisiana State College, the place he earned a Bachelor’s diploma in Enterprise Administration in 1995. Armed with this diploma, he did not enterprise into Wall Avenue or the company world. No, Johnson had larger plans: Dissecting the U.S. Structure like a puzzle grasp.
He stayed loyal to LSU, enrolling within the Paul M. Hebert Legislation Middle, the place he earned his Juris Physician in 1998. Whereas most regulation college students dream of constructing accomplice at some swanky regulation agency, Johnson had his eyes set on championing conservative values. Assume Atticus Finch (the fictional lawyer from To Kill a Mockingbird, a Pulitzer successful novel by American creator Harper Lee) however with a distinctly right-leaning bent.
The Legislation Days: Constitutional Crusader
Put up-law faculty, Johnson hit the bottom operating as a constitutional lawyer. His resume is peppered with circumstances tied to non secular liberty and conservative causes. If the U.S. Structure had been a treasure map, Johnson can be the Indiana Jones of authorized texts, at all times looking for the Holy Grail of authentic intent.
As a constitutional lawyer, Johnson superior his profession to turn out to be a senior legal professional and accomplice at Kitchens Legislation Agency in Minden, Louisiana. He additionally labored as a litigator and spokesman for the Alliance Protection Fund (now generally known as Alliance Defending Freedom, or ADF), a conservative Christian group that advocates for authorized insurance policies opposing LGBTQ rights.
Johnson represented Louisiana twice, in 2004 and 2014, defending the state’s ban on same-sex marriage earlier than the state’s Supreme Courtroom. He additionally labored with Freedom Guard, a corporation that supported public officers who refused to comply with the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s 2015 ruling which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
In 2005, Johnson performed a job in “Day of Reality,” an initiative led by ADF to counter the “Day of Silence” protests in colleges, which aimed to boost consciousness of anti-gay bias. Reflecting on the occasion later, Johnson defined that the “reality” promoted was primarily based on a strict biblical view, which held that homosexuality was harmful.
Johnson’s authorized prowess didn’t go unnoticed. He was quickly appointed because the dean of the proposed Choose Paul Pressler College of Legislation at Louisiana School, a Baptist establishment. Sadly, this bold challenge by no means noticed the sunshine of day.
Politics Beckons: The Rise to the Home
Johnson’s leap into politics was however a pure development. In 2015, he was elected to the Louisiana Home of Representatives. His legislative document? Straight out of a conservative’s playbook: Professional-life, pro-Second Modification (It ensures people the fitting to personal and carry firearms.), and, in fact, pro-Structure.
By 2016, Johnson’s ambitions outgrew the Louisiana Legislature. He ran for Congress and gained, representing Louisiana’s Fourth District. In Washington, he shortly earned a repute as a staunch conservative, a talented debater, and a defender of spiritual freedoms. His friends usually described him as “Mr. Structure.”
The Speaker’s Chair: A Quick-Observe Ascension
The final word plot twist got here in October 2023, when Johnson ascended to the place of Speaker of the Home. The Home had been in chaos, unable to elect a pacesetter. Enter Johnson, the darkish horse candidate who secured the function in document time.
At just below seven years in Congress, his rise to the Speaker’s chair was fairly quick. Johnson’s tenure hasn’t been with out drama—his bipartisan funding invoice irked some conservatives—however his knack for bridging divides has saved him afloat.
Closing Ideas
Because the Home prepares for its subsequent massive chapter, Johnson’s mix of Southern appeal, authorized experience, and conservative values ensures his story is much from over. If there’s one factor we’ve discovered about Mike Johnson, it’s that he thrives on challenges—and the Structure is at all times his North Star.
