The Rapid Rise of House Speaker Mike Johnson

Rep. Mike Johnson, a relatively unknown ultraconservative lawmaker, was elected as the new speaker of the House after a series of failed nominations and a contentious election process. Johnson's rise to power was aided by fatigue, luck, and his lack of enemies within the Republican Party. However, as the new speaker, he faces the challenge of steering a fractious GOP conference, avoiding a government shutdown, and maintaining the party's slim majority in the upcoming elections. Johnson's relative anonymity presents both opportunities and concerns for Republicans, who hope he can unite the party and fulfill his promises while also being malleable and responsive to different factions within the party.