AURN News with Ebony McMorris

GOP’s Fourth Shot: Mike Johnson Takes the House Gavel

Johnson's staunchly conservative track record stands out. He is an outspoken proponent of overturning the 2020 presidential election, a co-sponsor of a nationwide abortion ban bill, and an advocate for expunging Donald Trump's first impeachment.

Ebony McMorris
October 25, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Therefore, the Honorable Mike Johnson of the state of Louisiana, having received a majority of the votes cast, is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress.”

And with that, Republican Representative Mike Johnson ascends to the position of the 56th House Speaker. Following 22 tumultuous days in Congress marked by turmoil after the removal of Representative Kevin McCarthy, the vote revealed an astonishing display of cohesion. Every single one of the 220 Republicans threw their support behind Johnson. So what does this mean for a moment in our nation?

The Speaker’s office is seen with the newly installed nameplate of the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of La., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., takes the oath to be the new House speaker from the Dean of the House Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Johnson’s staunchly conservative track record stands out. He is an outspoken proponent of overturning the 2020 presidential election, a co-sponsor of a nationwide abortion ban bill, and an advocate for expunging Donald Trump’s first impeachment. He has also endorsed legislation reminiscent of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.

His tenure on Capitol Hill began in 2017, and some question his readiness for the role. Will Mike Johnson’s leadership steer the House toward stability or exasperate the existing divisions?

Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris is a native Washingtonian and University of South Carolina alumna. Her passion is mentoring young adults by teaching community empowerment and media education. She is an NAB member and board member of the Thurgood Marshall Center and was presented the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for contributing more than 4,000 hours of community service under the Obama Administration.