New US House speaker tried to help overturn the 2020 election, raising concerns about the next one
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press
The new speaker of the U.S. House had a key role in trying to overturn President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Republican Rep. Mike Johnson spearheaded a legal brief in support of an unsuccessful lawsuit trying to overturn the results. He repeated baseless conspiracy theories about the election and voted against certifying its outcome after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His role is significant because he is now second in the line of presidential succession and because the House in January 2025 will have a key role in certifying the winner of next year’s presidential election.
