Not an accidental speaker: How Mike Johnson positioned himself for the gavel

The Louisianan has long ensured he is in line ideologically with the hard right without going to tactical extremes.

Rep. Mike Johnson gestures during voting for the new House speaker, at the U.S. Capitol, on Oct. 25, 2023. | Alex Brandon/AP

But the record shows Johnson’s ascent was no accident. It was the culmination of a deliberate series of moves aimed at positioning himself for greater power. That ultimately made him a palatable choice to fellow Republicans, who unanimously elected him speaker Wednesday after 22 fractious days on Capitol Hill.

Ahead of his second term, Johnson took on Rep. Tom McClintock , a veteran pol who had served a decade in Congress and spent 25 years in California state politics before that. Johnson leapt into the race early, and where McClintock was openly critical of Freedom Caucus tactics, Johnson was more accommodating, suggesting that the two groups could work in tandem.

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