MILWAUKEE (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who had been tight-lipped about his switch from the Democrat to the GOP, spoke about his decision at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Tuesday night.
He told the crowd his switch was inspired by activists protesting on his front lawn.
“I’ve been a Democrat my entire life, albeit a conservative one, but when those activists tried to scare my kids my fellow Democrats were silent. It was Republicans who offered their support both privately and publicly,” he said.
During the speech, Johnson touted Dallas for leading the country on reducing violent crime.
“Democrats are good at using safe words but terrible at building safe neighborhoods and safe cities. But there is a better way, Dallas bucked national trends and achieved a remarkable three straight years of violent crime reduction,” he said.
Johnson made national headlines after he switch parties after being elected to a second term.
Critics chastised him and many said he should have revealed his political views ahead of the election.
Even though the City of Dallas is non-partisan and run by a city manager, it’s now the largest one in the country with a Republican Mayor.
The theme of day two of the RNC was “Make America Safe Again.” Attendees also heard from Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
Haley said she was not originally schedules to address the RNC but told the crowd she changed her mind after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Governor Greg Abbott is scheduled to speak Wednesday night along with the headliner, vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance of Ohio.
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