Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson moves up GOP leadership ladder in House

Greg Hilburn
Shreveport Times

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson moved up the GOP leadership ladder in the House Tuesday after being elected vice chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Johnson said Republicans must act as a stopgap to Democrats, who control the House as the majority.

He represents Louisiana's 4th Congressional District with Shreveport-Bossier City as the population hub.

"It has been troubling to see how far left Congressional Democrats have gone, and that is why we must be bold to advance our core conservative principles and policies," he said in a statement. "As vice chairman of the Republican Conference, I will work tirelessly alongside my colleagues to fight for these policies and ensure we uphold the values and freedoms the American people hold dear.”

Johnson's post makes him the second ranking Louisiana Republican in the House behind Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Metairie. It's one of seven elected leadership positions for Republicans in the House.

Johnson was elected to his third term Nov. 3 with 60% of the vote.

During the past four years he has become a trusted member of President Donald Trump's inner circle, traveling regularly with the president on Air Force One to football games, rallies and on the campaign trail.

Johnson's stock with Trump spiked when he was one of the president's staunchest defenders as a member of the House Judiciary Committee during impeachment hearings.

Johnson's performance during the hearings prompted Trump to include the congressman as a member of his defense team during the impeachment trial in the Senate, where the president was acquitted.

Johnson already serves as chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a position that had previously been a political launching pad to leadership for Vice president Mike Pence and Scalise.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1