Mike Johnson, R-La., hit the three-year mark as Speaker of the House on the anniversary of his 2022 election by House Republicans, a vote that ended three weeks of paralysis after Kevin McCarthy became the first House speaker in U.S. history ousted by his own party.
Johnson, in Congress only since 2017, was a long-shot pick who became known as the “accidental speaker.” Three years later, he’s running the House with one of the slimmest majorities in modern history, sometimes as thin as a single seat, a situation former Speaker Newt Gingrich has called “the most challenging speakership since the Civil War.”
The milestone lands just over a week before an election that could decide whether Johnson keeps the gavel at all.
What Johnson Says He’s Delivered
“Over the last three years — in spite of the constant challenges governing with one of the smallest majorities in history — House Republicans have delivered landmark victories for the American people,” Johnson told Fox News Digital.
“We enacted the largest tax cuts for hardworking families in U.S. history, added 1 million private sector jobs, cut $1.6 trillion in wasteful spending, secured the border, reversed outrageous Biden-era regulations, achieved the lowest violent crime rate in 126 years and the largest decline in prescription drug prices in 60 years.”
He also pointed to Trump savings accounts for every child, the first nationwide school choice program, a vote to ban stock trading in Congress, and new housing legislation.
“I remain grateful every day to my colleagues for their continued confidence as we fight together to protect our House majority. Serving as their 56th Speaker of the House is the honor of my life,” Johnson said.
Record Fundraising, Heavy Travel
Johnson has raised $526 million for Republicans this election cycle alone. In the month before Election Day he campaigned in more than 40 districts across 22 states. Of the 55 candidates he endorsed, 97% won their primaries.
The Question Nobody Can Answer Yet
Republicans are up against historical headwinds: the president’s party typically loses ground in midterm elections, and President Donald Trump’s low approval numbers are expected to hurt GOP candidates in close races.
Johnson has stayed publicly optimistic while declining to spell out a plan B.
“Heaven forbid, if we lose this majority or whatever, I don’t know what my next chapter of life is,” Johnson told Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie this month. “If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business, I’ll do that with equal fervor.”
Days later, speaking to CBS News, Johnson struck a different tone: “I don’t think it’s going to happen, so I don’t spend any time thinking about it … But in the unlikely scenario where we lost the majority, I would expect my colleagues would ask me to continue leading this conference, even if we have divided government.”
Multiple House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital earlier this month said they expect Johnson to step aside if the GOP loses the House. If Republicans hold the majority, Johnson is widely expected to keep the job, with Trump’s backing already locked in.
Trump’s campaign posted on X: “Speaker Mike Johnson is an example of the American Dream. As Speaker, he’s continued to defy the odds with a slim House majority and pass America First bills. After Republicans win in November, they should re-elect Mike as Speaker quickly!”
