By Isa Riano, Advertisement Manager
On Oct. 3, 2023, Kevin McCarthy was voted out as the speaker of the House, a historical event for the United States government. However, on Oct. 25, Mike Johnson, a social conservative lawyer, received 221 votes to become the new speaker of the House.
All Republicans who voted in favor of Johnson argued that he had a strong political background. Johnson represented Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District in 2016. He is also the chairman of the Republican Study Committee.
However, all Democrats who voted for Representative Hakeem Jeffries argued that Johnson’s views on specific political topics are controversial and highly conservative.
He has publicly supported and sponsored abortion bans and legislation to ban the discussion of sexual orientation at educational institutions that serve students younger than ten years old and receive federal funds.
Johnson is remembered by many for taking part in efforts that attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
Former President Donald Trump publicly gave a speech congratulating Johnson for being elected as the new speaker of the House, saying he is a “tremendous leader,” and will fulfill all the duties of his position successfully.
Many newspapers have covered the impact that Johnson’s election could have in the 2024 presidential elections.
According to ABC News, it is uncertain what actions Johnson would take if President Biden wins the 2024 presidential elections against former President Trump again.
Because of the Electoral Count Reform Act, which was passed to highlight the responsibility of the vice president of counting votes in presidential elections, there is almost no room for Johnson as the speaker to have power over deciding who will be president.
“As long as that was followed as it should be, the process will go smoothly, and it wouldn’t really matter whose speaker or which party is in control of either chamber,” said Edward Foley, an election law expert at The Ohio State University.
However, Foley claimed that there is a small risk that Johnson and those who work with him in the House dislike the new law and try to go against it in their position. If Johnson attempted to reverse the direction, the country would have a moment of crisis two weeks before Inauguration Day.
Although there are many opinions on what Johnson’s election means to the United States and how it will impact future elections, it is too soon to predict the impact Johnson will have on the government. However, his election on Oct. 25 is meaningful, as the House of Representatives is back in business after three weeks of not having a speaker.
