On Wednesday,  Louisiana Congressman, Mike Johnson was elected as the Republican House Speaker. Johnson is the fourth Republican nominated for Speaker, as the past three could not secure a majority vote. This follows the ousting of the previous Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy.

Johnson received votes from all 220 present Republicans, passing the 215-vote requirement, winning on the first ballot. This makes him the first speaker from Louisiana. Johnson was first elected to the House in 2016 and serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. He represents a district that extends from the middle of the state to its western border with Texas and its northern border with Arkansas.

Johnson is socially conservative and an avid supporter of former President Donald Trump. He served on Trump’s legal defense team during his first impeachment and played a key role in Trump’s efforts to overturn the election. Before serving in the House, Johnson worked as a lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ+ organization.

In response to Johnson’s election, Biden made a statement saying, “I will seek to work with them in good faith on behalf of the American people.”