Who is Mike Johnson? An ardent conservative who embraces far-right policies

After weeks of uncertainty, House Republicans elected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), a conservative Christian who opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriages, to become House speaker. While his hardline conservative record is not one that's widely known nationally, it's being celebrated by many Republicans in his home state who are welcoming what they see as an important moment in Louisiana's history. The state's  Gov.-elect Jeff Landry (R-LA) praised Johnson, saying he's "well-liked by everyone." Still, others have been less enthusiastic. Many Democrats are concerned with his record on restricting access to abortions and are not confident in his ability to work across party lines. Speaker Johnson represents Louisiana's 4th Congressional district, which covers most of the western and northwestern parts of the state, including Shreveport. His record is considered just as reliably conservative as that of Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH). But Speaker Johnson is lesser-known and has often been described as an under-the-radar lawmaker who has a kinder façade than Rep Jordan. Former President Donald Trump praised the  new speaker saying "he's a tremendous leader." Rep Johnson is also a staunch election-denier who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. He served on the team that defended Trump in his first impeachment inquiry. And he supported a lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in four swing states.