Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced Friday that he is switching parties and will serve as a Republican-affiliated mayor of the blue-leaning city.

While the Dallas mayoral office is nonpartisan, Johnson previously served as a Democrat in the Texas legislature. He slammed his former party in an op-ed for Wall Street Journal published Friday, blaming Democratic policies for “exacerbated crime and homelessness.”

“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,” Johnson wrote. “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.”

He added: “In other words, American cities need Republicans—and Republicans need American cities.”

Johnson’s announcement makes him the only Republican among the mayors of the 10 most populous cities in the US.

  • Iwasondigg@lemmy.one
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    1 year ago

    I accidentally voted for one of these people in the last election. In a local race, only two candidates so I voted for the one with a D next to his name. After I mailed in my ballot I got curious and went to his website, he was full on pro-Trump MAGA. Not even hiding the fact that he was running as a D to get dumbasses like me to vote for him. He got me good. Touché. Won’t be voting blind again. Stay vigilant!

    • davidgro@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Was your alternative any better? Sounds like a race with two Rs (which can happen legit in my state, primary is top two, but it’s more likely to be two Ds)