Buckle Up, Speaker Johnson’s Lack of Experience Could Mean a Bumpy Road Ahead
He’s now got one of the toughest jobs in Washington and not much experience to fall back on to get it all done in a short amount of time.
Why it matters? It’s possibly that the newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson is the least experienced representative to receive the gavel in more than 140 years. Some may see this as a positive for Johnson, but others are questioning if he is fit for the job.
John McCormack — the speaker from 1962 to 1971 — spent 33 years in the House before becoming speaker.
According to political analysis, Johnson's lack of experience is worrisome as the average experience of speakers since the Civil War was 18 years in the House. Johnson, on the other hand, has only been a member since 2016 and has barely completed his fourth term. This is almost half the average amount of experience of previous speakers.
The rise of Johnson to power is nothing short of stunning.
He has less experience serving in the House than any person elected speaker since John G. Carlisle in 1883, according to political analysis. Office of the House Historian, Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress. (Simran Parwani/Axios)
A relatively unknown figure outside of Capitol Hill, Johnson had few enemies to derail his campaign for the speaker position. It seems that he rode on the coattails of his less than stellar opposition to secure his spot at the top of the GOP leadership team.
This lack of experience did not go unnoticed by his fellow Republicans. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise were all deemed more qualified for the role of Speaker, yet Johnson managed to claim the position.
In his defense, some of Johnson’s colleagues have praised Johnson for being a likable and well-respected member of the Republican Party. However, it seems that his lack of experience may have played a bigger role in his success than his personality.
Since the Civil War, speakers have spent an average of 18 years in the chamber before ascending to the top of the ladder.
Critics are questioning if Johnson is truly prepared to take on the challenges of being Speaker of the House. With the current political climate and divisive issues at play, it takes a seasoned and experienced leader to navigate the waters. But it seems the GOP is willing to take a gamble on the least experienced candidate in 140 years.
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Only time will tell if Johnson's lack of experience will prove to be a hindrance in his new role. But one thing is for sure, the American people deserve a more experienced and qualified leader, not just someone who is well-liked and has few enemies.