Courtesy of Axios
Ava Wahl
WASHINGTON, D.C.-On October 25th, 2023, Representative Mike Johnson, R-LA, was elected speaker of the Republican-led House after weeks of debate and speculation. One of five remaining potential nominees, relatively unknown Johnson was voted in 220 to 209 by right-wing and centrist Republicans alike. He is the most junior member of the House to take the position in over ten decades.
Johnson, aged 51, is a hardline conservative who played a major role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. Often motivated and inspired by his evangelical Christian faith, Johnson is a staunch opponent of abortion and queer rights, while espousing tax cuts and strict border control policies.
In a recent speech following his rise to the Speakership, he promised to “restore people’s faith in this House”, urging that the “time for action is now”. He is certainly right: with a spiraling conflict in the Middle East, a recent mass shooting in Maine, and another government shutdown around the corner, Congress must find a way to bridge gaps and work together to support our country.
The past few weeks were filled with a variety of closed-door meetings and failed Speaker bids. First, there was Rep. Steve Scalise, also from Louisiana, who withdrew his consideration due to a lack of support. Next came Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH, the Freedom Caucus co-founder who attempted three consecutive rounds of voting and lost votes each time. After a brief consideration to expand Interim-Speaker McHenry’s governing power, the House GOP chose Minnesota Rep.Tom Emmer as the nominee from a collection of candidates, only to see him drop out several hours later following opposition from the hard right.
With limited options and dire circumstances putting pressure on the House, Republicans reached a boiling point. Without a Speaker, the House is essentially unable to govern, leaving Congress vulnerable and disorganized at a time when our Legislative branch is needed more than ever. Burnt out and facing tension from both sides, the GOP nominated Johnson, hoping that his anonymity would help his odds on the ballot by shielding the lawmaker from scrutiny and political infights. Most likely, a combination of this and desperation after weeks of dysfunction contributed to his victory.
Johnson’s election win solidifies the House GOP’s continued shift to the right, and represents a decisive success in the mind of Matt Gaetz and other Representatives who set the Speakership race in motion by voting to oust Kevin McCarthy.
“If you don’t think that moving from Kevin McCarthy to MAGA Mike Johnson shows the ascendance of this movement and where the power in the Republican Party truly lies, then you’re not paying attention,” Gaetz explained enthusiastically to former Trump campaign chair Steve Bannon, referring to the new Speaker as “MAGA (Make America Great Again) Mike” in a show of support for Trump and his rise to power in the GOP.
So, what’s next for the House? Will Johnson, who now stands second in line to the Presidency, be able to hold his leadership position and make headway in a divided and dawdling Congress?
“We’re going to dispense with all the usual ceremonies and celebrations that traditionally follow a new speakership because we have no time for either one,” Johnson said. “The American people’s business is too urgent in this moment. The hour is late. The crisis is great.”
Following his election, the House introduced a resolution that denounced Hamas and conveyed support for Israel, passing the legislation 410-10-6. Additionally, aid packages for both Israel and Ukraine are to be discussed in ensuing Congressional sessions. As for the upcoming spending deadline on November 17, Johnson proposed a plan to introduce a dozen individual spending bills that would combat the threat of a government shutdown. He believes another continuing resolution might be needed to avoid miscooperation from the Senate, an extension that would last several additional months.
Caring for and improving the lives of the American people amid the problems at hand should be seen as a superordinate goal, something to unify Congress despite rising extremism and contesting viewpoints.
“Even though we have real disagreements about important issues,” President Biden explained last Wednesday, “There should be mutual effort to find common ground wherever we can.”