Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson spent more than a decade as a Democrat before making a significant political shift.
Just over a year ago, he announced his decision to join the Republican Party.
Johnson wrote in a Fox News op-ed that his switch should have been a wake-up call for Democrats heading into the 2024 election.
“Apparently I was kind of the canary in the coal mine,” Johnson told “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones on Wednesday.
“I thought it was a harbinger of things to come, and it turned out I was exactly right.”
Dallas is a predominantly blue area, with more than half voting for President Joe Biden in 2020. With Mr. Johnson's replacement, Dallas becomes the largest city in the United States led by a Republican mayor.
He joins Fort Worth Mayor Matty Parker as one of only two Republican mayors to lead a major Texas city. Johnson attributes this to a broader readjustment in the nation's cultural dynamics, a shift he attributes to President-elect Trump.
“Donald Trump has given the Republican Party a gift,” Johnson explained. “He made parts of the Democratic coalition that thought people would never think of voting Republican do exactly that.”
One of the key factors in Trump's landslide victory in 2024 was a surge in support from minority voters, especially Hispanic voters. In Texas, Republican Latino support increased by 28% compared to the 2020 election.
Mr. Trump also made inroads with black voters and young voters, significantly narrowing the Democratic Party's traditional advantage.
“I think this is an opportunity for the Republican Party to double down on his message,” Johnson said, explaining that Trump's focus is on revitalizing America's cities.
“The challenge of urban America. That's what these groups want to see happen now,” Johnson explained.
“They believe that our next president, Donald Trump, can actually deliver on his promise to make our cities great again. And he can do that, and I think he will too.”
Fox News' 2024 election voter analysis found that Republican voters were most concerned about the economy, immigration and crime, but Johnson argued these issues have been ignored under Democratic leadership. There is.
“Everything people have asked for for generations in our city under Democratic leadership has not been achieved.”
Johnson, a vocal advocate of law enforcement funding, tax cuts and a pro-business environment, has made his policy priorities clear and wants to help the next president enact an agenda for the next four years. states.
“Republicans shouldn't give up on our cities. We need to actually invest in them and focus on them. I think that's what he's trying to do and I think he's going to do that. I want to help you do that.”
