New House Speaker Mike Johnson embraces staunch conservative views, religion as a leading force in his politics, policies

The new Speaker holds conservative values which are at the forefront of his ideologies and political career. Photo courtesy of Wikicommons

In his first speech from the House chamber as elected speaker Oct. 25, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson cast his speakership using religious terms, stating: “I believe God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment.”

Rep. Greg Steube commemorated Johnson on his speakership by posting on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, an image of Johnson and other colleagues on a bent knee praying.

Johnson was a little-known conservative who represented the fourth congressional district of Louisiana prior to his speakership. After weeks of chaos and turmoil over who would become the new speaker, Johnson quickly ascended in the ranks.

John Compton, a political science professor at Chapman University, responded to Johnson's speakership.

“I don’t think anyone really knows what he’s gonna do, to be honest, because he very clearly has some very clear conservative views on different issues,” Compton said. “But, it’s not clear at this point how much he intends to drive the agenda of his caucus as opposed to just being a mouthpiece or facilitator for the Republican caucus.”

Charlie Sisk, a sophomore political science major and the president of Chapman Republicans, expressed his support for Johnson.

“Mike Johnson is a very strong individual,” Sisk said in an interview with The Panthe. “So, I think people kind of respect that and understand that we need more of a conservative individual in there right now, to stand by his values and everything, and put America first.”

Johnson has deep roots in the Southern Baptist Convention, which is the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. He and his wife, Kelly Johnson, a licensed pastoral counselor, are members of Cypress Baptist Church in Louisana. Now, as an elected speaker for the House of Representatives, Johnson seeks to incorporate his evangelical Christian beliefs in the national discourse.

In his first speech as an elected speaker on Oct. 25, he quoted British statesman and philosopher Gilbert Keith Chesterton, saying, “America is the only nation in the world that is founded upon a creed” which is “listed with almost theological lucidity in the Declaration of Independence.”

In an interview with the Disciple’s Voice of Hope with Alex T. Ray YouTube channel, Johnson expressed skepticism on the distinction between church and state, as he stated that he believes it is not a constitutional principle.

“Over the last 60 or 70 years, our generation has been convinced that there is a separation of church and state…Most people think that is part of the Constitution, but it’s not,” Johnson said during the interview.

Johnson also played a key role in leading efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In 2020, he argued against Biden’s win because some state officials changed voting procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic without the approval of legislatures. Johnson also rallied his fellow Republican colleagues to overturn the 2020 election results. 

In 2004, Johnson said that homosexuality is “inherently unnatural” and a “dangerous lifestyle” and wrote that same-sex marriage could “place our entire democratic system in jeopardy by eroding its foundation.” He also sponsored a bill called the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act of 2022, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to educate children under 10 with what was said to promote “sexually-oriented material.”

Junior political science and peace studies major Michael Pepito, who is also the president of Chapman Democrats, expressed concerns on Mike Johnson’s speakership as a potential roadblock for gay rights.

“Let’s say, the Supreme Court ends up overturning a lot of what are considered pretty monumental cases, like affirmative action over Obergefell v. Hodges, gay marriage and then obviously, if you’re left leaning, you would rely on Congress codifying it,” Pepito said. “But, if Congress is deadlocked or if the House, or the speaker of the House, is someone from Louisiana who represents evangelical Christians and someone who is (an) evangelical Christian, that's obviously gonna be a huge roadblock,” said Pepito.

He continued on how the impact of the 2024 presidential election, the Supreme Court’s decision and Johnson’s speakership can affect progressive values and principles.

“All of a sudden, a lot of really basic issues that a lot of us have taken for granted (such as) gay marriage rights, affirmative action and a lot of things that have to do with progressive values get overturned and we could be looking at a really regressive time,” Pepito said.

Johnson served as a former senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian advocacy law firm that opposes abortion and seeks to overturn pro-LGBTQ laws. The firm is now called Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Johnson was also part of the effort to shut down abortion clinics and defend anti-abortion laws in Louisiana after Roe v. Wade was overturned. In an opinion piece in the Shreveport Times, Johnson wrote of the judicial philosophy that legalized the right to an abortion, comparing abortion to “a holocaust.”

He also co-sponsored federal legislation that would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat was detected, but the bill has exceptions for physical health illnesses that could endanger a pregnant person’s life, though not for psychological or emotional ones.

Some religious conservatives spoke out in support of Johnson’s speakership, including ADF President Kristen Waggoner.

Johnson has also been a strong advocate for gun rights. On Oct. 26, Johnson appeared on Fox News in response to the murder of 18 people in Lewiston, Maine. 

“At the end of the day, the problem is with the human heart. It’s not guns, it’s not the weapons, Johnson told Fox News. “We have to protect the right of the citizens to protect themselves. That’s the Second Amendment and that’s why our party stands so strongly for that.”

Compton expressed his thoughts on Johnson winning the speakership. 

“I think Republicans were realizing that it was turning into a circus, and so they turned to someone who’s relatively unknown and who hasn’t made a lot of enemies yet,” Compton said. “I think the reason that Mike Johnson ultimately won is that he’s someone who’s on good terms with the far right of the party. His views on social issues are pretty far right.”