Florida Democrats slam selection of Mike Johnson as Speaker

Florida’s full Republican delegation helped elect a new Speaker. But Democrats representing the Sunshine State in the House slammed Speaker Mike Johnson as an enemy of democracy.

“We can disagree on the issues, however, Democracy is not something we can agree to disagree on,” U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, an Orlando Democrat, posted on social media. “Any architect of a seditious movement should not be allowed to hold the people’s gavel.”

The top issue raised by Florida Democrats about the Louisiana Republican was his role in challenging President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Donald Trump. Johnson spearheaded an amicus brief supporting a Texas challenge to Pennsylvania’s election results.

That brief notably was joined by most Republicans in Florida’s congressional delegation at the time, including U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Mario Díaz-Balart, Neal Dunn, Matt Gaetz, Bill Posey, John Rutherford, Michael Waltz and Dan Webster, as well as former U.S. Reps. Ross Spano and Ted Yoho.

For some Florida Republicans, challenging the 2020 election results remains a noble cause. When House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California raised Johnson’s decision to challenge the results during a nominating speech for Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna chanted “damn right,” according to The Messenger’s Stephen Neukam.

But Democrats see nothing to cheer for.

“With their vote today, Republicans have once again turned the House over to MAGA extremism,” said U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel.

“Mike Johnson was a central architect of the former President’s dangerous, shameful effort to overturn the 2020 election, has supported numerous bills to ban abortion nationwide, and proposed a budget to cut Social Security benefits. With my House Democrats, I remain committed to putting People Over Politics — working to lower everyday costs, defend reproductive freedom, and protect our national security.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat, also focused on Johnson’s strong stance against abortion rights in her own criticism of the new Speaker.

“House Republicans have chosen a new Speaker … a far right MAGA extremist,” she posted on social media. “Congressman Mike Johnson is an anti-choice extremist. He wants to ban ALL abortions without exception, and turn doctors and women into criminals.”

All Democrats on the floor supported Jeffries.