WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Mike Johnson has been elected by his fellow Republicans to serve as speaker of the House of Representatives, after three weeks of turmoil and three failed candidates.
Prior to Congress, Johnson was a lawyer who mainly worked on religious freedom issues, successfully defending Louisiana's same sex marriage ban in 2004.
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), the latest House Republican nominee for House Speaker, reacts to former Speaker nominee and current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) voting for Johnson during another round of voting to pick a new Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., October... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreHe opposes same sex marriage and introduced a bill in 2022 that would have banned schools from promoting or discussing gender identity.
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCEJohnson served as chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee and was elected vice-chair of the conference, but otherwise has no leadership experience - a potential hindrance as he enters into negotiations with the Democratic-controlled Senate and the White House.
RELATIONSHIP WITH TRUMPJohnson is an avowed supporter of Trump, as evidenced by his support for Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Persons:
Mike Johnson, Johnson, CONSERVATIVE Johnson, Donald Trump's, Steve Scalise, TRUMP Johnson, Trump, Mike Johnson's, Moira Warburton, Alistair Bell
Organizations:
Republican, Louisiana Baptist Message, Louisiana statehouse, Congress, CONSERVATIVE, Trump, U.S . Rep, U.S . House, U.S, Capitol, Russia, Ukraine, Democratic, White, Thomson
Locations:
Shreveport, Louisiana's, Louisiana, Washington , U.S, UKRAINE, Ukraine, Washington