Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 25, 2023 / 18:30 pm
Rep. Mike Johnson, a 51-year-old Louisiana Republican, was elected Speaker of the House on Wednesday afternoon in a 220-209 vote that came as a surprise to many.
After nearly three weeks of tumult in the House of Representatives following the ousting of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans unanimously voted in favor of Johnson taking the gavel.
During his first address as speaker, Johnson, a practicing Christian, stated his belief that all authority is granted by God and that leaders have a responsibility to those they govern.
“The Bible is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority,” Johnson said. “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 that they deserve it and to ensure that our republic remains standing as the great beacon of light and hope and freedom in a world that desperately needs it.”