What’s Happening:

Major American cities have faced years of growing crime and poverty. Homelessness has exploded in many large cities. Various policies have led to an increase in crime and a drop in police staff. Many Americans have opted to flee big cities and search for greener pastures in small towns or rural areas.

Many have blamed Democrat city councils, district attorneys, and mayors for this decline. Numerous Democrat-run cities have implemented laws that appear to have a direct connection to increased drug use, homelessness, criminal activities, and crumbling economic conditions.

One Democrat mayor, in a strong red state, claimed to have spent his time fighting to improve his city. And now, he is revealing a major move that will surprise many voters.

From The Post Millennial:
In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced that [he will] switch to the Republican party…

“But today I am changing my party affiliation. Next spring, I will be voting in the Republican primary. When my career in elected office ends in 2027 on the inauguration of my successor as mayor, I will leave office as a Republican,” he added.

In an article published by the Wall Street Journal, Mayor of Dallas Eric Johnson revealed he was switching parties to become a Republican. He touted his work to make the major Texas city “safer, stronger, and more vibrant.”

Johnson stated that he won re-election by 98.7% of the vote. His policies to help Dallas sound much more Republican than Democrat. He rejected calls to defund the city’s police, fought to lower taxes, and pursued a “friendlier business climate.”

The mayor announced he was officially becoming a Republican and will be voting in their primaries next Spring. Johnson had previously served as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives.

The reasons for the switch will come as little surprise to conservatives. Johnson called out the growing crime epidemic in major cities, calling for mayors that will “champion law and order.” He said that “American cities need Republicans.” He called Republican President Theodore Roosevelt his “political hero.”

Johnson went on to say that many big cities were “in disarray,” blaming liberal leadership for failing to secure “public safety.”

As a second-term mayor, his office is safe. Even if he loses support from liberals in Dallas, he will finish out his term in 2027. This move could protect his future political aspirations in Texas. Johnson might be eyeing a governor’s run; becoming a Republican would help his odds.

This move further casts doubt on Democrats’ attempts at flipping Texas blue. Only a few communities in the Southern state have liberal leaders. Now, one of the largest cities in Dallas has lost theirs.

Key Takeaways:

• Mayor of Dallas announced he was switching parties to become a Republican.
• Eric Johnson blamed Democrats for neglecting law and order and allowing crime.
• He claimed that American cities need Republicans to restore prosperity.

Source: The Post Millennial