Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson announced Friday that he is switching parties and will serve as a Republican-affiliated mayor of the blue-leaning city.

While the Dallas mayoral office is nonpartisan, Johnson previously served as a Democrat in the Texas legislature. He slammed his former party in an op-ed for Wall Street Journal published Friday, blaming Democratic policies for “exacerbated crime and homelessness.”

“The future of America’s great urban centers depends on the willingness of the nation’s mayors to champion law and order and practice fiscal conservatism,” Johnson wrote. “Our cities desperately need the genuine commitment to these principles (as opposed to the inconsistent, poll-driven commitment of many Democrats) that has long been a defining characteristic of the GOP.”

He added: “In other words, American cities need Republicans—and Republicans need American cities.”

Johnson’s announcement makes him the only Republican among the mayors of the 10 most populous cities in the US.

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[+] [S] 126 points 3 years ago (3 children)
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    [–] 119 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    Why are we not running as fake conservatives in every race? Conservative voters are profoundly unintelligent and are bound to occassionally vote for us.

    We could make running as a republicant a trendy hobby. We could "take the challenge" to see who can can fuck the GOP the hardest.

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  • [–] 29 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    It only works the other way around because the money supports the right wing. Nobody’s gonna fund a secret lefty on the republican ticket.

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  • [–] 24 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    There’s a standard playbook. Just say the same things as Don or Ron. Talk about woke pineapple slices or something and you’re in. Just commit. Like Chris Rock said, Republicans don’t let “sense” fuck up their argument.

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  • [–] 97 points 3 years ago (6 children)
    1. How is this allowed?

    2. Since it's allowed, why aren't Dems taking advantage of the old switcheroo and packing every race with temporary conservatives only for switching back once elected? That would be the funniest thing.

    I mean if democracy is a joke may as well get some good out of playing it.

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    [–] 90 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    I'm the mayor of this town and there's too much crime. So I'm switching parties. That'll fix things.

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  • [–] 49 points 3 years ago

    Know how you prevent that? Run actual progressives with progressive pedigrees.

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  • [–] 41 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    poll-driven commitment of many Democrats

    You mean the will of the people? You would subvert the will of the people for your own agenda?

    Hmm... sounds like a tyrant to me.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago

    I think what he is trying to say is that democrats make promises to appear good at the polls and get elected and then do nothing about the promises or whatever.

    It’s stupid as fuck. Especially since, as a Democrat, he made a poll driven commitment to be a Democrat to get elected and then did nothing about that promise.

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  • [–] 40 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    I accidentally voted for one of these people in the last election. In a local race, only two candidates so I voted for the one with a D next to his name. After I mailed in my ballot I got curious and went to his website, he was full on pro-Trump MAGA. Not even hiding the fact that he was running as a D to get dumbasses like me to vote for him. He got me good. Touché. Won't be voting blind again. Stay vigilant!

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    [–] 35 points 3 years ago

    Democrats that donated to his campaign should sue him for fraud.

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  • [–] 33 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Unemployment declines under democratic leadership.

    Fiscal conservatism isn’t going to house people.

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  • [–] 23 points 3 years ago

    Maybe the Democratic party needs to vet their nominees better. Otherwise it's not going to be a political party anymore, just a name to exploit.

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  • [–] 14 points 3 years ago* (1 child)
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    [–] 10 points 2 years ago

    Stop complaining. This country has the best politicians money can buy!

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  • [–] 8 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    I'm not saying its ok to assinate people. But I can understand why it would happen.

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  • [+] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)
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    [–] 5 points 2 years ago

    Meh. This really isn't what it looks like. I'd guess he's planning to run for a much higher office, specifically one where you do NOT get elected for such a position in Texas unless you have an R next to your name.

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