The election of Representative Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House is a remarkably surprising turn of events considering the tumultuous political scenario. On October 25, 2023, the House elected Johnson in a 220 to 209 vote, a conservative Southern Baptist, filling a vacancy left by Kevin McCarthy’s removal on October 3, 2023, orchestrated by a faction of resolute Republicans responding to a bipartisan deal averting a government shutdown.

The journey toward Johnson’s election was anything but smooth. Following McCarthy’s ouster, the House was engrossed in an intra-term election, commencing on October 17, which saw Republicans failing twice to elect Representative Jim Jordan, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump. The struggle didn’t end there. Republicans nominated Representative Steve Scalise, yet unity eluded the party, making the election an elusive goal.

Amid this political maelstrom, Johnson’s emergence can almost be seen as a harbinger of conservatism, at least for now. A Louisiana lawyer, Johnson has championed conservative causes—particularly the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage. His initial step into the spotlight came with the Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act in 2015, aimed at preventing adverse treatment based on marriage views, attracting the notice of conservative circles like the Family Research Council (FRC) and Tony Perkins.

Deepening his conservative advocacy, Johnson guest-hosted on Perkins’ radio show, “Washington Watch,” aligning with views on the unnaturalness of homosexual relationships, as he wrote in a 2004 op-ed.

His 2016 congressional campaign centered around his faith and conservative values, leading to his subsequent involvement in the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus within the House.

Johnson’s conservative outreach extended through talk radio, FRC interviews, and a 2022 podcast “Truth be Told with Mike and Kelly Johnson,” exploring current events through a scriptural lens with conservative figures like Rep. Jim Jordan, Charlie Kirk, and Jordan Peterson.

His stern anti-abortion stance and disapproval of the 2020 election methods are part of his conservative narrative, impacting discussions on social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. His DW-Nominate score reflects his conservative ideology, placing him more conservative than 63% of House Republicans. His election has drawn accolades from Christians who was seen praying on the House floor with other members, drawing the ire of leftists and RINOs alike.

In his victory speech, Johnson acknowledged a divine orchestration in the electoral outcome, espousing the biblical perspective that God positions authorities. He articulated a sense of purpose imbued in every elected official to serve the American populace, underscoring the imperative to uphold the Republic as a beacon of liberty in a desolate world.

I don’t believe there are any coincidences in a manner like this. I believe that Scripture, the Bible is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you, all of us.

And I believe that God has ordained and allowed each one of us to be brought here for this specific moment in this time. This is my belief. I believe that each one of us has a huge responsibility today to use the gifts that God has given us to serve the extraordinary people of this great country and they deserve it.

And to ensure that our Republic remains standing as the great beacon of light and hope and freedom and a world that desperately needs it.

Johnson’s conservative moorings resonate well with actual conservatives, especially his stance on Ukraine which significantly aligns with the people’s will, as opposed to the warmongering tendencies of some Republicans in Name Only (RINOs). His pro-life and pro-marriage convictions further endear him to conservatives, delineating a clear ideological demarcation from RINOs-turned-Democrats like Bill Kristol. When adversaries like Kristol—the political version of David French—oppose you, it indeed is a testament to being on the right trajectory.

New York Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the Democratic Caucus, lambasted Johnson’s efforts to overturn the election results during his nominating speech for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic nominee for Speaker. Aguilar harshly stated, “House Democrats believe that when members of this body voted to reject the results of the 2020 election they forfeited their ability to lead this chamber,” evidently reflecting a deep ideological divide​.

On the other end of the spectrum, there is legitimate criticism of Johnson from Christians, particularly abolitionist Christians. According to Reformed apologist, James White, Johnson was instrumental in killing a Louisiana bill that would have outlawed abortion and penalized mothers for having one.

I’ve written on this topic extensively and noted how the mainstream pro-life movement has repeatedly compromised on abortion legislation in favor of pragmatism and “keeping the peace” with liberals.

The cautious optimism surrounding Johnson’s election emanates from a hope that his leadership will steer America closer to its conservative ethos, standing firm against a tide of compromising ideologies. Is he a true Christian? I don’t know. But will his views and policies he advocates for align with my Christian views? Far more so than the alternatives, for sure. His tenure will hopefully be marked by a reinvigorated commitment to core conservative principles, a move towards unity within the Republican ranks, and a staunch opposition to policies incongruent with the values he, and any decent American, hold dear.