Mike Johnson

James Michael Johnson (born January 30, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He is a graduate of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University.^[1]

Born January 30, 1972 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Age 54 as of 2026.^[5]

Before entering politics Johnson worked as an attorney in private practice and for the Alliance Defending Freedom, and sat on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2004 to 2012. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2015 and to Louisiana's 4th congressional district in 2016, taking office in 2017.^[1][2]

Johnson chaired the Republican Study Committee from 2019 to 2021 and was vice chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023. On October 25, 2023, after Kevin McCarthy was removed as speaker, Johnson was elected to replace him, becoming the first Louisianan to hold the post, and he was narrowly reelected to a full term as speaker in 2025.^[1][3][4]