House Republican Vice Chair Mike Johnson, R-La., has officially announced his bid for House Speaker in a letter addressed to fellow members of the House.
In the letter, Johnson expressed his gratitude for the encouragement he received from colleagues, stating, ‘I have been humbled to have so many Members from across our Conference reach out to encourage me to seek the nomination for Speaker.’
While Johnson initially had no aspirations for the office and had not contacted anyone about it until recently, he has decided to step forward after extensive prayer and deliberation.
Several others have also declared their candidacies for House Speaker, including House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., and Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Tx.
The House has been without a speaker for over two weeks following the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., by eight Republicans. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who previously ran for speaker, is no longer the GOP speaker nominee.
In his letter, Johnson emphasized the need to address the national debt and maintain a strong foreign policy stance. He stated, ‘As Israel is viciously attacked, Russia, China, and our other adversaries are becoming more emboldened. Our national debt has surpassed $33.5 trillion, our southern border is overrun, violent crime is rampant, and the rising cost of living is crushing our constituents.’
He underscored the significance of a Speaker who can be a team player and a bridge-builder with the energy and skillset necessary to meet the challenges of the day. Johnson highlighted his background in law, policy, strategic analysis, messaging, managing, networking, and building coalitions as unique preparations for the demands of the role.
