Speaker Mike Johnson qualifies for reelection, poised to retain top job in Congress

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport qualified for reelection Thursday and seems poised to retain the most powerful position in the House as pundits favor Republicans to retain their slim majority in the fall elections.

Johnson, Louisiana's first speaker of the U.S. House, qualified by a special proxy - daughter Hannah Johnson - at the Louisiana State Arichives in Baton Rouge.

The speaker remained busy at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he delivered a speech earlier this week and where he will be a prominent presence during former President Donald Trump's nomination acceptance speech Thursday night.

Johnson unexpected rise last fall to speaker came when he emerged as a compromise choice after weeks of chaos following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California.

He's been on a full sprint since.

"Every minute since getting the gavel has been full," Johnson said in a previous exclusive interview with USA Today Network. "There's been no down time at all."

Yet Johnson said he has embraced the flurry of new responsibilities and unrelenting schedule.

"I get up excited every day and am enjoying the opportunity I've been presented with," he said. "I see this as an opportunity for renewal and restoration and I'm enjoying being in a position to help guide the country in that direction."

Johnson survived a formal challenge to his speakership in May by a handful of rogue Republicans led by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, earning a vote of confidence when the House voted voted overwhelmingly to rebuff Greene's effort to fire him.

Since then Johnson seems to have consolidated his support among GOP House members and Trump.

“Hopefully, this is the end of the personality politics and the frivolous character assassination that has defined the 118th Congress,” Johnson said after surviving the threat to his job.

He struck a similar tone in speeches and interviews following Saturday's assassination attempt on Trump.

Qualifying for the Nov. 5 election continues through Friday.

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.