Democratic Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced that he would switch to the Republican Party, citing the need for GOP lawmakers.
While the mayoral office of Dallas is non-partisan, Johnson previously served as a Democrat in the Texas legislature. The lawmaker also slammed his former party in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal published on Friday. He blamed the Democrats' policies for "exacerbated crime and homelessness."
Dallas Mayor Switches Parties
In his remarks, Johnson said that the future of America's great urban centers depends on the willingness of the nation's mayors to champion law and order while practicing fiscal conservatism. He added that cities across the United States need the genuine commitment of officials to these principles, which he said are the characteristics of the GOP.
The mayor's announcement makes him the only Republican among the mayors of the ten most populous cities across the United States. As per CNN, his announcement comes after his re-election win in May, where he got 93% of the vote after being first elected in 2019.
During the 2020 election, United States President Joe Biden won Dallas County by more than 30 points. On Friday, the Texas Democratic Party issued a statement where it accused Johnson of being dishonest with Dallas Voters.
The chair and vice-chair of the party said that Dallas voters deserved to know where Johnson stood before he ran for re-election as mayor of the city. They said he had not been honest with his constituents because he knew he would lose to a Democrat if he flipped parties before the election.
The party also said that the feeble excuse for democratic representation would fit right in with Republicans. They expressed their gratitude that Johnson can no longer tarnish the brand and values of the Texas Democratic Party.
Supporting the GOP
In his op-ed, Johnson said he excoriated local Democrats for "virtue signaling" that he claims makes for good headlines but does not provide safer, stronger, and more vibrant cities. The mayor also touted his record on public safety and controlling crime as conservative lawmakers nationwide rail on Democrats for failing to properly police cities, according to Politico.
Johnson's decision to switch parties comes after various decisions that drew skepticism in the state earlier in the year. These include inviting Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn to his inauguration. Both of the GOP senators spoke warmly about the local leader during their address at the event.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the state is getting more Red daily. He described Johnson as a pro-law enforcement official who will not tolerate leftist agendas.
The Dallas mayor's announcement comes as he has long been a vocal supporter of police as other cities have moved to defund police departments in the wake of the George Floyd riots. He also posted a Fox News Digital article on social media in February where he outlined how Austin police officers are retiring because of low morale amid the defunding movement, said Fox News.
