Long Island Congressmen support Johnson of Louisiana for House speaker

All four of Long Island's Congressmen voted for Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana for House speaker on Oct. 25 after a contentious three rounds of voting.

Reps. Anthony D'Esposito, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota had voted for former Rep. Lee Zeldin of Shirley in a symbolic move to draw attention to Long Island issues. 

On Oct. 25 before the fourth House speaker vote in the past three weeks, D'Esposito, Garbarino and LaLota announced on X that they were supporting Johnson. Rep. George Santos, a Republican who represents parts of Nassau County, also voted for Johnson.

Johnson, a conservative, won unanimous Republican support in the House speaker vote. 

In a post on X, Garbarino said, "I was pleased to speak with Rep. Johnson about critical issues facing Long Island. He understands how essential flood insurance and disaster relief is to coastal communities like Long Island ... Mike Johnson understands New York priorities and I look forward to working with him as the next speaker of the House of Representatives."

Johnson was the fourth Republican candidate for House speaker since Rep. Mike McCarthy was ousted by fellow Republicans from the speakership on Oct. 3. House Republicans were planning to vote Wednesday for McCarthy's replacement.

In a statement on X, LaLota said Johnson is a “commonsense conservative” who “understands the priorities of Long Islanders and is committed to working with me to put Long Island first.”

D’Esposito said that he supported Johnson because he understands Long Island issues. “Mike is my friend, a son of a firefighter, a good family man, and a smart, well thought leader who loves this nation,” D’Esposito said in a statement. “While Speaker Johnson and I won't always agree on everything, I am confident the gentleman from Louisiana will work collaboratively with myself and my colleagues from Long Island to advance the legislative priorities of New Yorkers.”

Johnson is the House GOP conference vice chair.

George Gresham, president of United Healthcare Workers East — which represents nurses in Nassau County — said Johnson’s record of voting against supplemental funding for the 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program, nutrition programs for children and to criminalize abortion make him a poor selection.

“MAGA extremists like Rep. Johnson pose an existential threat to the future of our democracy and the bedrock principles of justice and equality we hold dear,” Gresham said in a statement. “The 450,000 healthcare workers of 1199SEIU are ready to do whatever is needed to ensure there is a House majority in 2024 which moves our nation forward for the benefit of all.”

Laura Gillen — who was defeated by D’Esposito last year in the 4^th Congressional District race and is seeking the Democrat Party nomination for 2024 — said Johnson is not the right person for House speaker.

“For 22 days, House Republicans — aided and abetted by Anthony D’Esposito — sowed chaos and dysfunction in our government when New York families needed their elected leaders to bring bipartisan solutions to our most pressing problems,” Gillen said in a statement. “And in the end, D’Esposito chose to support Mike Johnson, who supports a national abortion ban with no exceptions, led the charge to overturn the 2020 elections, and opposes same-sex marriage.”