Speaker Mike Johnson's wealthy Louisiana donors could become key funders for House GOP
U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), the latest House Republican nominee for House Speaker, talks to reporters prior to another round of voting for Speaker of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington, October 25, 2023.

Newly minted Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has quietly assembled a group of wealthy Louisiana political backers who could become key players in GOP fundraising under Johnson's speakership.

"I'm sure if you are major donor and figure in Louisiana, you're now feeling as if you have major influence," a lobbyist close to Johnson told CNBC. The person was granted anonymity to speak freely about private donor matters.

Johnson's election last week has reportedly already provided a boost to the National Republican Congressional Committee, the official campaign arm for House Republicans. On Oct. 27, Johnson's first full day as speaker, the NRCC raised $175,000, according to Politico. It was the group's best online fundraising day in more than a year and a half.

Along with the speakership, Johnson also assumed the role of fundraiser-in-chief for House Republicans. But filling the shoes of former speaker Kevin McCarthy, a prolific fundraiser, will not be easy.

During the 2022 midterm cycle, a super PAC aligned with McCarthy, Congressional Leadership Fund, raised $350 million.

During that same period, Johnson's campaign and leadership political action committee combined to raise just over $1.5 million. That total is far less than many other House members, who raised on average $3.51 million that cycle, according to OpenSecrets.

With Johnson under pressure to raise millions of dollars for the 2024 House races, his circle of Louisiana's top Republican donors could be asked to step up.

One of them is shipyard magnate Donald "Boysie" Bollinger, a longtime supporter of Johnson and to the Republican party.

Bollinger is widely viewed as one of the most influential Republican political donors in Louisiana. He was a state finance chairman for the presidential campaigns of Presidents Donald Trump, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and former Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.