How Mike Johnson Became Speaker ‘Through Prayer, Not Politics’

The unusual path of a Louisiana congressman, described as a man ‘with no enemies,’ who suddenly became speaker of the House.

Newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) takes his oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 25, 2023. After a contentious nominating period, Mr. Johnson was voted in to succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted on Oct. 4. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Eyebrows were raised when newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), in his first address from the chair, told the assembled Democratic and Republican members of the House of Representatives that the God of the Bible raised up each one of them for a purpose.

“I want to tell all my colleagues here what I told the Republicans in that room last night: I don’t believe there are any coincidences in a matter like this. I believe that scripture, the Bible, is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority. He raised up each of you. All of us. And I believe that God has allowed and ordained each and every one of us to be here at this specific moment,” the Louisiana Republican said.