Dallas Mayor Switches to Republican Party

Facts

• Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who won 98.7% of the vote in his re-election campaign earlier this year as a Democrat, has changed his party affiliation to Republican.¹
• Johnson, who spent a decade as a Democrat in the Texas House of Representatives, announced his decision in a Friday op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, in which he wrote 'the future of America's great urban centers depends on' mayors focusing on “law and order” and adhering to fiscal conservatism.²
• Johnson also criticized Democratic mayors for treating their cities as 'laboratories for liberalism' and spending tax dollars on policies 'that exacerbate homelessness, coddle criminals, and make it harder for ordinary people to make a living.'¹
• The mayoralty of the country’s ninth-largest city is technically a nonpartisan position, but Johnson — who can’t run for reelection in 2027 — has often aligned with moderate Republicans.³
• Johnson is now the only Republican mayor among the US' 10 largest cities.⁴

Sources: ¹Wall Street Journal, ²Associated Press, ³Business Insider and ⁴Newsnation.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. Johnson might as well change his political affiliation considering how much of his success as Dallas mayor has come through policies that are distinctly Republican — including being an advocate for law enforcement, creating a palatable environment for businesses, and focusing on infrastructure. Dallas is moving in the opposite direction from the crumbling Democrat-led cities that are imposing radical left policies.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Washington Post. What a betrayal of voters this is, and it’s a sneaky move by Johnson to wait until he was reelected to announce his new affiliation. Johnson’s switch, though, won’t change the fact that Dallas and the surrounding county are devoted Democrats who back Pres. Biden and what the party has to offer them.