Following a notable appearance by Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, some of his city council colleagues on Wednesday criticized his remarks as “political opportunism,” arguing that Johnson unjustly attributed the city’s reduction in violent crime to himself.
Johnson, who spoke for just over four minutes at the RNC, highlighted his decision to publicly switch to the Republican Party in September the previous year, as detailed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. He recounted his motivations, citing tensions following the murder of George Floyd and budget discussions within the Dallas City Council, where considerations were made to trim the Dallas Police Department’s overtime budget.
During his speech, Johnson pointed out an incident where activists confronted him at his home, which he claimed went unaddressed by fellow Democrats.
Elected in 2019, Johnson also touted Dallas’s success in lowering violent crime rates over the past three years, claiming Dallas as America’s safest large city and noting that Republicans lead 11 of the top 15 safest cities.
However, on Wednesday, three Dallas city council members rebuked Johnson for taking sole credit for the city’s crime reduction efforts.
Councilmember Jaime Resendez of District 5 expressed disappointment, emphasizing that such progress was the result of collaborative efforts by the entire council, not attributable to one individual.
Councilmember Jaynie Schultz of District 11, who recently announced she would not seek re-election in 2025, criticized Johnson’s use of party rhetoric, considering the council’s nonpartisan approach to public safety.
Councilmember Adam Bazaldua of District 7 echoed these sentiments, accusing Johnson of political opportunism and asserting that the mayor often fails to collaborate with other councilmembers on various issues.
According to SMU political science professor Matthew Wilson, Johnson’s appearance at the RNC was strategically valuable for the GOP, showcasing an African-American mayor from a major city advocating for Republican policies on crime control.
