Democrats are starting to realize that their policies are having devastating effects on their cities.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced on Friday that he is leaving the Democrat party and becoming a Republican.
The most Texas story you’ll read today
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 22, 2023
Days after AG Ken Paxton was acquitted, the recently re-elected Democrat Mayor of Dallas Eric Johnson announced he is switching to the Republican Party
“America’s cities need Republicans and I’m becoming one”
Welcome brother! pic.twitter.com/2xLaUlrkrH
From Fox News:
The mayor of one of the largest cities in the United States announced in a Friday op-ed that he is leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed with the headline “America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One”, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson explains that he is leaving the Democratic Party because “the future of America’s great urban centers depends on the willingness of the nation’s mayors to champion law and order and practice fiscal conservatism.”
“Our cities desperately need the genuine commitment to these principles (as opposed to the inconsistent, poll-driven commitment of many Democrats) that has long been a defining characteristic of the GOP,” Johnson wrote.
“In other words, American cities need Republicans—and Republicans need American cities,” Johnson continued. “When my political hero Theodore Roosevelt was born, only 20% of Americans lived in urban areas. By the time he was elected president, that share had doubled to 40%. Today, it stands at 80%. As America’s cities go, so goes America.”
🚨 Dallas’ Democrat Mayor Eric Johnson has announced he’s becoming a Republican:
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 22, 2023
“America’s Cities Need Republicans, and I’m Becoming One: While Dallas has thrived, elsewhere Democratic policies have exacerbated crime and homelessness.” pic.twitter.com/02uBrCoZNW
More from CBS News:
He also wrote that he believes Democratic policies “exacerbate homelessness, coddle criminals and make it harder for ordinary people to make a living,” while accusing Democrats of “virtue signalling.”
Johnson wrote that despite the change in his party registration, he will not change his approach to the non-partisan office of mayor.
“In the coming years, I will continue to pursue my three-pronged goal for Dallas: to become the safest major city in America with the best park system in Texas and the lowest taxes in our fast-growing North Texas region,” he wrote.
The Texas GOP was quick to praise Johnson’s decision on social media Friday morning.
They shared: “Let’s all welcome @Johnson4Dallas to the Republican Party! His tenure as Mayor has been marked by fighting hard for lower property taxes and fully funding Dallas PD.”
