Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson switches to Republican Party
Joshua Fechter and Brian Lopez
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, a longtime Democrat, is now a Republican — turning Dallas into the largest city in the country with a GOP mayor.
“Today I am changing my party affiliation,” Johnson wrote in an op-ed published Friday in The Wall Street Journal. “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.”
Johnson served in the Texas Legislature for nine years as a Democrat before he was elected as Dallas mayor in 2019. Though the mayor’s position is technically nonpartisan, Johnson joins Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker as one of two Republican mayors to lead a major Texas city.
Johnson did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Johnson’s switch came as little shock to Dallas political observers, who said he has been signaling for some time his leaning toward the GOP — and his distancing from Democrats.
"This is one of the worst kept secrets in the world of politics," said Vinny Minchillo, a Dallas-area Republican consultant. "This has been coming down for a long time."
State Rep. John Bryant, a Dallas Democrat, took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to quip about Johnson's announcement.
“Switching parties? I didn’t know he was a Democrat,” Bryant wrote.
In his op-ed, Johnson made the case for how his vision for Dallas aligns with the GOP, noting his support for law enforcement, low property taxes and fostering a business-friendly environment.
Over the course of his mayoral tenure, Johnson has enthusiastically backed anti-crime initiatives and developed a strong bond with Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia. He won reelection without opposition in May after sewing up the city’s business donor class, who often lean Republican, as well as the Dallas Police Association, the city’s police union.
“Mayors and other local elected officials have failed to make public safety a priority or to exercise fiscal restraint,” Johnson wrote in the op-ed. “Most of these local leaders are proud Democrats who view cities as laboratories for liberalism rather than as havens for opportunity and free enterprise.”
After his reelection this year, Johnson invited Texas’ two Republican U.S. senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, to attend his inauguration — which some observers complained improperly injected partisanship into a nonpartisan space.
Earlier this week, Johnson, along with four other Dallas council members, voted against the city’s $4.8 billion budget because he believed it did not sufficiently cut the city’s property tax rate. Cutting property taxes is a darling issue for the state’s top Republicans.
“Too often, local tax dollars are spent on policies that exacerbate homelessness, coddle criminals and make it harder for ordinary people to make a living,” Johnson wrote in the op-ed. “And too many local Democrats insist on virtue signaling — proposing half-baked government programs that aim to solve every single societal ill — and on finding new ways to thumb their noses at Republicans at the state or federal level. Enough. This makes for good headlines, but not for safer, stronger, more vibrant cities.”
Johnson’s party switch immediately makes him one of the most prominent Black Republicans in the country, a list that also includes South Carolina senator and presidential candidate Tim Scott and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Black voters still vote overwhelmingly Democratic, though the GOP has made gains among Black men in recent years.
Dallas is solidly Democratic, however. Dallas County went heavily for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, with Biden carrying the county by more than 30 percentage points. Some local politicians said Johnson's decision puts him out of step with the city's voters.
“I don't believe that it sets the tone for where the priorities are,” Dallas City Council Member Adam Bazaldua said. “In fact, that's why I believe it would have been nice for voters to have the opportunity of knowing that party affiliation prior to going to the ballot box in May.”
Politicos interpreted Johnson's switch as a precursor to a potential bid for statewide office — which Democrats have been locked out of for decades.
"You've got to be a Democrat to win in Dallas," said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. "You've got to be a Republican to win in Texas."
Johnson's party switch is a further indictment of the state of the Democratic Party in Texas, said Minchillo, the GOP strategist.
"This is certainly a smart move for his career," Minchillo said. "If you want to stay in Texas politics, you want to have the 'R' by your name."
Johnson didn’t mention his party switch as he spoke for about an hour during a Texas Tribune panel event Friday morning in Austin. Johnson noted the nonpartisan nature of his office and said he wants to see a more conservative approach to how Dallas spends its money, arguing that it's currently inefficient and the city could cut plenty of welfare programs that he believes only a minuscule amount of people use. Polling shows that most Dallasites want lower taxes, he said.
“I don't even know what these services are that some people are referring to that they're just so essential to poor people in the city,” he said. “I don't know what they're using.”
Texas Republicans were quick to embrace Johnson as one of their own.
"Texas is getting more Red every day," Gov. Greg Abbott wrote on X. "He’s pro law enforcement & won’t tolerate leftist agendas."
“To my friend and former colleague, welcome to the Republican Party!” Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican, said on X. “Mayor [Johnson] is absolutely right. Conservative policies are the key to safe, thriving, and successful cities. His leadership is a shining example of that. Great news.”
The Texas Democratic Party's top officials, meanwhile, responded to the news with pure venom.
And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Moderator: Biker
- Biker
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And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
The meltage has been as spectacular as you would imagine
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Democrats hate a black person that wont follow the narratives.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
So, would anyone consider this a bit of a con job?
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Its yet another one of Salty's tweets thats full of shit.
Should we tell him about the whole concept of the "RINO"?
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
So, how many of you are proud of the current Republican Party?
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
So, a reluctant Republican.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
I'm not "proud" of any political party or politician. I dislike them all...I just dislike the R's a little less because they are the only thing stopping the D's from going full retard.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
I think you should abstain from voting.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Nah, someone has to cancel out your vote.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:38 pmI think you should abstain from voting.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Wrong state bub. It's not a popular vote. If it was, how'd that work out for you?CHEEZY17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:41 pmNah, someone has to cancel out your vote.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:38 pmI think you should abstain from voting.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Still humor impaired I see.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:24 pmWrong state bub. It's not a popular vote. If it was, how'd that work out for you?CHEEZY17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:41 pmNah, someone has to cancel out your vote.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:38 pmI think you should abstain from voting.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
You didn't like the question?CHEEZY17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:29 pmStill humor impaired I see.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:24 pmWrong state bub. It's not a popular vote. If it was, how'd that work out for you?CHEEZY17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:41 pmNah, someone has to cancel out your vote.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:38 pmI think you should abstain from voting.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
But its not and never will be because thankfully the Founding Fathers in their wisdom created the Electoral College to save us from the tyranny of the majority.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 5:10 pmYou didn't like the question?CHEEZY17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:29 pmStill humor impaired I see.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
As opposed to the tyranny of the guy with 91 indictments!CHEEZY17 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:04 pmBut its not and never will be because thankfully the Founding Fathers in their wisdom created the Electoral College to save us from the tyranny of the majority.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
I'd argue that the way they set up Congress was supposed to do that. I have no problem with electing a President by popular vote instead.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
My favorite is that 2 Senators in Montana have equal power of the Senators in California.FSchmertz wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 10:58 pmI'd argue that the way they set up Congress was supposed to do that. I have no problem with electing a President by popular vote instead.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
As they should. Understand what it means to be a republicsaltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:51 pmMy favorite is that 2 Senators in Montana have equal power of the Senators in California.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Or the 2 Senators from Rhode Island have equal power to the 2 Senators from Texas! AMIRITE!!!??saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:51 pmMy favorite is that 2 Senators in Montana have equal power of the Senators in California.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
Yes, that's the entire fucking point. In fact, that's why the senate and house were created. Some argued they should all have equal say, and others said it should be by the amount of people you represent and boom, both were created giving an equal chance to both, because that was the wisdom of our founders. Knowledge is good to have. Stop going around stupid.saltydog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 11:51 pmMy favorite is that 2 Senators in Montana have equal power of the Senators in California.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
The left think no one walks away from the left.
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Re: And just like that, an Uncle Tom is born
So, which party is it that's trying to upend the system again?
The problem is not that there is evil in the world, the problem is that there is good. Because otherwise, who would care?