On Thursday, the 10 most populous cities in the US had Democratic mayors. On Friday, only nine do—and it is not because of an election, reports CNN. It’s because Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican—a move he announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. Johnson said he embraced “fiscal conservativism” along with “law and order,” and he said those principles were better embodied by the GOP. “American cities need Republicans—and Republicans need American cities,” wrote Johnson, who easily won reelection in May with 93% of the vote.
In Dallas, the move was received with little surprise, reports the Texas Tribune. Johnson, for example, has been pushing hard to cut property taxes. “Switching parties? I didn’t know he was a Democrat,” snarked Democratic State Rep. John Bryant on X, formerly Twitter. Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, says the move suggests Johnson has his eye on statewide office. “You’ve got to be a Democrat to win in Dallas,” Jillson tells the Tribune. “You’ve got to be a Republican to win in Texas.”
Two other reactions, from opposite camps: “Texas is getting more Red every day,” a pleased Gov. Gregg Abbott tweeted. “He’s pro law enforcement & won’t tolerate leftist agendas,” added the Republican. The state’s top Democrats saw it differently. “This feeble excuse for democratic representation will fit right in with Republicans—and we are grateful that he can no longer tarnish the brand and values of the Texas Democratic Party,” wrote Gilberto Hinojosa and Shay Wyrick Cathey, Texas Democratic Party chair and vice-chair. (Read more Dallas stories.)
Thursday saw all of the 10 most populous cities in the US helmed by Democratic mayors. However, on Friday, only nine cities remained under Democratic leadership—and this change wasn’t a result of an election, according to an article from CNN. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson revealed in a thought-provoking Wall Street Journal op-ed that he has switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, citing his endorsement of “fiscal conservativism” and “law and order.” Johnson firmly believes that these principles are better exemplified by the GOP. Johnson, who secured 93% of the vote in his reelection bid in May, expressed the conviction that “American cities need Republicans—and Republicans need American cities.”
The Texas Tribune reports that the reaction to Johnson’s party switch in Dallas has been met with little surprise. This is due to Johnson’s strong push to reduce property taxes. Democratic State Rep. John Bryant playfully remarked on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “Switching parties? I didn’t know he was a Democrat.” Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University, believes that Johnson’s decision to switch parties suggests his aspirations for a statewide position. Jillson states, “You’ve got to be a Democrat to win in Dallas. You’ve got to be a Republican to win in Texas.”
The Governor of Texas, Gregg Abbott, expressed delight in a tweet, “Texas is getting more Red every day.” He added, “He’s pro law enforcement & won’t tolerate leftist agendas.” On the other hand, the top Democrats in the state had a contrasting perspective. Gilberto Hinojosa and Shay Wyrick Cathey, chair and vice-chair of the Texas Democratic Party, respectively, shared their thoughts, stating, “This feeble excuse for democratic representation will fit right in with Republicans—and we are grateful that he can no longer tarnish the brand and values of the Texas Democratic Party.” (Read more Dallas stories.)
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