Washington, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Newly elected U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Republican from Louisiana, has already attracted significant attention for his stance on abortion, same-sex marriage, and his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.

With his new role, Speaker Johnson wields substantial influence over the House of Representatives and holds a key position in negotiations with Democratic President Joe Biden and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. However, due to recent legislative actions, Johnson's ability to interfere with the upcoming 2024 presidential election is limited unless he chooses to flout the law.

Since assuming the speaker's gavel on Wednesday, the 51-year-old lawmaker has refrained from commenting on his collaboration with former President Donald Trump regarding the 2020 election or expressing his views on the legitimacy of President Biden's victory.

During the last congressional session, Johnson and 199 of his colleagues voted against the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022, which was incorporated into a year-end spending bill. The new law, enacted in response to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, necessitates the approval of one-fifth of both the House and the Senate to consider challenges to a state's election results. This significantly raises the threshold compared to the previous requirement, which allowed any single lawmaker to trigger a challenge.

Election-law expert Edward Foley from the Ohio State University believes that if the law is followed, the electoral process should proceed smoothly. However, Johnson's inclination to question the legitimacy of election results has drawn criticism from Democratic groups.

Prior to his election to the House in 2016, Johnson made a name for himself as a proponent of conservative social causes. He actively defended Louisiana's ban on same-sex marriage in legal battles and opposed court rulings that struck down laws criminalizing gay sex. Johnson's voting record in Congress aligns with his conservative principles, as he consistently opposes measures aiming to legalize abortion nationwide and to provide protections for same-sex marriage.

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Johnson played a pivotal role in crafting a legal brief, signed by 125 other House Republicans, urging the Supreme Court to reject election results from disputed states that Trump had lost to Biden. Johnson argued that these states had unlawfully altered their election procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby rendering their results invalid. Even after the Supreme Court dismissed the case, Johnson remained steadfast in his assertions.

Looking ahead, Johnson may find himself in a more prominent position in January 2025 when Congress convenes to certify the results of the next presidential race, provided that Republicans retain control of the House and reappoint him as speaker. However, experts emphasize that the speaker's influence over the Electoral College process is limited. Despite this, unprecedented events, such as those witnessed on January 6, 2021, which saw a mob of Trump supporters storm the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification, highlight the need for vigilance.

While Johnson maintains a conservative agenda and a keen interest in challenging election outcomes, his actions as House Speaker will be subject to the checks and balances of the law and the institutional framework. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the nation will closely observe how Speaker Johnson exercises his newfound authority in shaping legislative outcomes.

**Note: The content of this article is based solely on the information provided and does not include additional speculation or analysis.