The Implications of Mike Johnson as House Speaker on the 2024 Election

The elevation of Mike Johnson, the new House Speaker, has raised concerns among Democrats about his potential to undermine the 2024 election, given his previous efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. However, as Speaker, Johnson does not have special powers to unilaterally overturn the will of the voters during the certification process. The vice president, not the speaker, presides over the counting of electoral votes, and the Electoral Count Reform Act has tightened safeguards to prevent similar attempts to interfere with the election. While Johnson could still attempt extreme steps to interfere, such as organizing lawsuits or pressuring state boards of elections, it is highly unlikely that he could lead enough Republicans to overturn the election results.