Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Is Changing Political Parties

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Lubbock Mayor Eric Johnson dropped a political bomb on Friday as he announced he is switching political parties. The second term Mayor of Dallas wrote a piece for the Wall Street Journal titled, "America's Cities Need Republicans, and I'm Becoming One".

The opinion piece was published moments after Johnson got done taking questions on stage at Texas Tribune Fest during a discussion being moderated by myself. During out discussion on stage, Johnson spoke about what he believed the proper role of government should be and what services cities should look at as "essential".

Johnson also spoke about his recent vote against the City of Dallas budget. In his WSJ piece, Johnson wrote about the state of major cities being run by Democrats.

Unfortunately, many of our cities are in disarray. Mayors and other local elected officials have failed to make public safety a priority or to exercise fiscal restraint. Most of these local leaders are proud Democrats who view cities as laboratories for liberalism rather than as havens for opportunity and free enterprise.

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. 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.

Once the story from the Wall Street Journal appeared. Word spread quickly.

Even Governor Greg Abbott had something to say.

The Chad Hasty Show will broadcast from Day 2 at TribFest this evening from 5-7pm.