Mike Johnson is an American lawyer and politician who became the 56th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023. Johnson is a Republican and has represented Louisiana’s 4th congressional district since 2017. In 2024, he supported legislation to provide Ukraine with $60 billion in military aid.
Mike began his political career in the Louisiana House of Representatives, and served from 2015 to 2017, before winning election to Congress. In Congress, he challenged the 2020 presidential election results and supported conservative policies, including efforts to restrict abortion. He chaired the Republican Study Committee from 2019 to 2021 and was vice chairman of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023.
Mike Johnson Biography
James Michael Johnson was born on January 30, 1972, in Louisiana, USA and he is 53 years old as of 2025. Johnson identifies as a Christian, an evangelical, and a Southern Baptist, saying his faith guides everything he does. He believes America’s success is rooted in its foundation on faith.
“I am a Christian, a husband, a father, a life-long conservative, constitutional law attorney, and a small business owner in that order” 1reuters
Mike Johnson Education
Mike Johnson graduated from Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, earned a business degree from Louisiana State University, and completed his law degree at LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1998.
Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer, including time with the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group. From 2004 to 2012, he served on the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. 2britannicaÂ
Mike Johnson’s Wife & Children
Mike married Kelly Renee Lary in May 1999 and they have five children Hannah, Abigail, Jack, and Will including Michael Tirrell James, whom they took in and became his legal guardians. Mike and his wife have hosted a podcast, Truth Be Told, sharing Christian perspectives on public issues. 3mikejohnsonÂ
Mike Johnson Family
Mike Johnson was born as the oldest of four children to Jeanne and Pat Johnson. They divorced after 23 years of marriage.
Mike Johnson Career Influences
Mike Johnson worked as a constitutional lawyer before starting his political career. He served as senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group, and defended Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage in 2004.
From 2004 to 2012, Johnson served on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2015, he founded Freedom Guard, a nonprofit law firm focusing on religious liberty cases. Notable cases included defending LSU’s sports chaplaincy program and representing the Ark Encounter theme park in a lawsuit over state tax incentives, which ended in a ruling favoring religious organizations.
Johnson described his legal work as defending religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and traditional marriage. He is also a professor at Liberty University, teaching at its Helms School of Government, and has been a guest host on the Washington Watch radio show.
Mike Johnson’s Views and Policies
Abortion
Mike Johnson opposes abortion and has blamed issues like school shootings on the devaluation of life caused by abortion and family breakdown. He has supported bills to ban abortion at various stages, including fertilization and 15 weeks, and co-sponsored nationwide bans with penalties for doctors performing abortions. After the Dobbs decision, he stated abortion laws should be decided by states and later said he wouldn’t push for a national ban.
Climate Change
Mike acknowledges climate change but questions whether humans are the main cause. He has received significant donations from the oil and gas industry.
Covenant Marriage
In the 1990s, Johnson promoted “covenant marriage” laws in Louisiana, which made divorce harder to obtain. He advocates for marriage and fidelity.
Donald Trump
Johnson was initially critical of Trump but later became a close ally. He defended Trump during both impeachment trials and supported his actions in office. Johnson endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, and Trump endorsed Johnson in return.
Economic Policy
Mike voted for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, believing it would boost the economy. He supports reforming entitlement programs for long-term stability and opposes raising the federal minimum wage to $15.
Evolution
Johnson rejects evolution, supports creationist teachings, and helped fund the Creation Museum’s Ark Encounter project. He has linked evolutionary teachings to societal issues, claiming they undermine the value of life.
Health Care
Johnson voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017. As chair of the Republican Study Committee in 2019, he led efforts to replace it, including a plan to roll back Medicaid expansion.
Immigration
Johnson supported Trump’s 2017 travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, calling it necessary for security. He has introduced legislation to tighten asylum rules and opposed a bipartisan immigration bill in 2024 that included funding for Ukraine and Israel. Johnson frequently discussed immigration policy with Trump.
In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Research
Mike co-sponsored a 2023 bill declaring life begins at conception, which could affect IVF and embryonic research. After public backlash to a state court ruling on embryos, he stated he supports IVF but sees its regulation as a state issue, not federal.
LGBTQ Rights
In the 2000s, Johnson expressed opposition to same-sex marriage and described homosexuality as harmful and unnatural. He opposed the Supreme Court decisions Lawrence v. Texas (decriminalizing same-sex relations) and Obergefell v. Hodges (legalizing same-sex marriage). However, he later stated he respects the rule of law regarding Obergefell.
In 2022, Mike introduced a bill to limit discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in federally funded schools, similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. He has also opposed gender-affirming care for minors and supported legislation to criminalize it.
Capitol Bathroom Policy
In November 2024, Johnson enacted a policy reserving single-sex facilities in the U.S. Capitol for individuals based on biological sex. This followed the election of Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress.
Religion
Mike Johnson is part of the Christian right within the Republican Party and bases his political views on his Southern Baptist faith. In his first speech as House Speaker, he highlighted his religious beliefs.
He has questioned the concept of separating church and state, claiming the founders intended to protect churches from government interference, not the reverse.
In 2018, Johnson supported student-led prayer and religious expression in public schools, arguing it was protected by the First Amendment. He has also credited evangelical author David Barton as a significant influence on his beliefs. 4wikipediaÂ
Mike Johnson’s Net Worth
Mike has an estimated net worth of around 6 million US Dollars as his annual congressional salary is $400000.
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