FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2023

So-Called New York “Moderates” Support Election Conspiracy Theorist and Author of Nationwide Abortion Ban to Lead House Republicans

NEW YORK, NY – Today, vulnerable New York House Republicans again sided with the extreme MAGA wing of their party to elect a chief legal architect of Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election and the author of a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest to be the next Speaker of the House. “MAGA Mike Johnson,” as he is known, is also the author and original co-sponsor of the federal “Don’t Say Gay” bill and has a long history of supporting virulently anti-LGBTQ legislation at every level of government. As chair of the Republican Study Committee, Speaker Johnson has also worked to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other essential programs that everyday New Yorkers rely on. 

“Once again, the so-called GOP moderates have shown us who they really are – extremists caving to the demands of Donald Trump,” said Jay S. Jacobs, Chair of the New York State Democratic Party. “New Yorkers deserve to know – do NY House Republicans support Johnson’s extreme agenda, or are they simply trying to please the twice-impeached former president after he derailed their party’s leadership elections from a Manhattan courthouse during his own civil fraud trial?” 

Vulnerable Reps. Brandon Williams, Marc Molinaro, Mike Lawler, Anthony D’Esposito, George Santos and Nick Lalota all voted to elevate the conspiracy theorist to be third in line for the United States Presidency. 

CHECK THE FACTS:

• The New York Times called Mike Johnson “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections”

•Mike Johnson is an original co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act, which bans abortion nationwide with no exceptions for rape and incest. 

•Mike Johnson authored H.R. 9197, which draws on the infamous Florida “Don’t Say Gay” bill

•Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) says Mike Johnson has “earned [his] trust”

• Rep. Brandon Williams (NY-22) calls Mike Johnson a friend

• Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) says the GOP will “rally around Mike Johnson”

• Rep. George Santos (NY-03) made light of Johnson’s election denialism

• Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04) thinks Mike Johnson is a “well thought leader”

• Rep. Nick LaLota (NY-01) says Mike Johnson is a “commonsense conservative”

REMINDER:

• Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17) has previously told us that he lacks a spine when it comes to electing a Speaker, telling a constituent on his possible support for Jim Jordan that “if [Jordan] has the votes, I’ll probably just vote for him because I’m not gonna be a cog in the wheel — to do what?” 

• Rep. Brandon Williams (NY-22), a co-sponsor of H.R. 7, which would prohibit states like New York from including abortion coverage in private ACA health care plans, likely has no objection to Johnson’s extreme views on abortion because they align with his own.

• Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) denigrated his own constituents, saying most of them “wouldn’t know the Speaker of the House if they backed over them with a pickup truck.” 

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