Eric Johnson (Texas politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Johnson
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| 60th Mayor of Dallas | |
| Assumed office June 17, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Rawlings |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 100th district |
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| In office April 20, 2010 – June 17, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Terri Hodge |
| Succeeded by | Lorraine Birabil |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eric Lynn Johnson
October 10, 1975 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (since 2023) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (until 2023) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) University of Pennsylvania (JD) Princeton University (MPA) |
Eric Lynn Johnson (born October 10, 1975) is an American politician and lawyer. Since June 2019, he has been the 60th mayor of Dallas, Texas.
Johnson was first elected as a member of the Democratic Party. In September 2023, he switched to the Republican Party. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing parts of Dallas and Mesquite.
Early Life and Schooling
Eric Johnson was born in Dallas, Texas, on October 10, 1975. He went to Dallas public schools for his first few years. Then, he earned a scholarship to attend Greenhill School through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He graduated from Greenhill in 1994.
After high school, Johnson attended Harvard University. He joined the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and was very involved in community service. Because of his hard work helping others, he won scholarships from Harvard College.
During one summer in college, Johnson lived in a public housing project in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He ran a summer program for the children who lived there.
Johnson graduated from Harvard with honors (cum laude) in 1998 with a degree in history. He returned to Dallas and worked for a short time before deciding to continue his education. He later earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a master's degree from Princeton University in 2003.
Career as a Lawyer
Johnson became a licensed lawyer in Texas in November 2003. He has worked for several major law firms. He is currently a partner at the international law firm Locke Lord LLP.
Serving in the Texas Legislature
Johnson was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in a special election in 2010. He represented the 100th District. He was reelected five times, serving until he became mayor in 2019.
While in the legislature, Johnson started the Young Texans Legislative Caucus. This group focused on issues important to younger Texans, like transportation and education. He also served as the vice chairman of two important committees. When he became mayor of Dallas, he left his seat in the legislature.
Mayor of Dallas
Becoming Mayor
Johnson was elected mayor of Dallas on June 8, 2019. He became the second African-American mayor in the city's history. He was also one of the youngest mayors of a major American city.
In May 2023, Johnson was re-elected as mayor with 93% of the vote. This was the largest victory for any Dallas mayoral candidate since 1909.
First Term as Mayor
As mayor, Johnson has said that public safety is his top priority. He created a task force to find ways to reduce crime. The city used the task force's ideas to fund new safety programs. Under his leadership, Dallas saw a drop in major violent crimes in both 2021 and 2022.
Johnson also focused on improving the city's economy. He worked to bring new companies to Dallas, including major corporations like Goldman Sachs and AECOM. During his time as mayor, the city has lowered property taxes every year.
In 2020, Johnson started Dallas Works, a summer jobs program for young people in the city.
Responding to COVID-19
In March 2020, Johnson declared a local state of disaster in Dallas because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed the city to take steps to slow the spread of the virus.
He created committees to help with the city's recovery. These groups helped small businesses and people who had trouble paying for their homes. Johnson also pushed for more COVID-19 testing and vaccines to be available, especially in communities that needed them most. He publicly received the vaccine in January 2021 to encourage others to do the same.
Second Term and Party Change
On September 22, 2023, Johnson announced he was switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He said his views on issues like public safety and lower taxes were a better fit with the Republicans.
This change made Dallas the largest city in the United States with a Republican mayor. In July 2024, Johnson attended the Republican National Convention for the first time.
Disagreements and Criticisms
When he became mayor, Johnson promised to bring a more polite and respectful tone to city government. However, some people have criticized his leadership style. They have said he can be hard to work with and sometimes misses parts of city council meetings.
In 2023, Johnson got into a public disagreement on Twitter with a reporter from The Dallas Morning News. He criticized the media for not reporting enough on the city's falling crime rates. The reporter responded with a casual comment, which led to a debate. The reporter was later fired for breaking the newspaper's social media rules.
Personal Life
Johnson lives in Dallas. He is divorced and has three children. He is a member of the Mountain View Church of Christ.
See also
- List of Harvard University politicians
- List of mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States
