The Hill’s Changemakers: Mike Johnson, Speaker

In the year since he skyrocketed to the Speakership, Mike Johnson (R-La.) has navigated seemingly endless headaches caused by warring factions within his own party. 

“It is not like herding cats. It is like exotic animals — and half of them have rabies in Washington. It’s a very dangerous job,” Johnson said on the campaign trail in October. 

But despite those intraparty obstacles, Johnson, often with help from Democrats, avoided having that drama bring the House or government to a halt, or derail his Speakership. 

He kept the government open, despite Donald Trump’s calls for a government shutdown over a proof-of-citizenship voting bill. He overcame a snap vote called by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on ousting him from the Speakership.  

Johnson also became a road warrior on the campaign trail, traveling to more than 240 cities across 40 states before Election Day and quickly building trust with GOP mega-donors. 

Most importantly, Johnson grew close with Trump, making frequent trips to Mar-a-Lago and planning months in advance for a legislative agenda the GOP hopes to quickly pass with trifecta control of government. 

That alliance, along with the dynamic of the coming Republican-controlled government, is also helping Johnson manage the factions in the House GOP conference. 

Trump gave Johnson his stamp of approval in front of the GOP members after the election. Later that day, Johnson helped strike a deal between the House Freedom Caucus and antichaos conservatives on rules that will make it harder to oust a Speaker. 

And Johnson faced no opposition when he was renominated to be Speaker.