Democratic North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee told “Fox and Friends” Tuesday that he was switching political parties.
“When you’re a pro-life Democrat, a pro-gun Democrat, and you’re a very conservative person, that’s not really well known in the Democratic Party anymore,” Lee said during the interview. “And so for me to hang on as long as I did, hoping the party would change, it didn’t, it got worse.”
“I found a new place where I can put my allegiance to and help once again. Forget about the last eight years, it’s about the next four years that predict the future,” Lee said. (RELATED: MGM Will Open Several Las Vegas Properties June 4)
Lee made the announcement that he would become a Republican because of an alleged “socialist takeover” of the Nevada Democratic Party’s leadership, according to Fox 5 Vegas.
“Nevada needs a switch. Switch to PEOPLE over ESTABLISHMENT. Switch to RIGHTS over RHETORIC. The switch is on! It’s time to turn off the Democratic Socialists and turn on the light of liberty,” his campaign website said.
Today, I switched political parties. The Democratic Party is broken. It’s time to bring people together to get things done. It’s time to stop shouting and start solving problems. pic.twitter.com/PUDf5frc5D
— John Lee (@MayorJohnLee) April 6, 2021
“When you’re a pro-life Democrat, a pro-gun Democrat, and you’re a very conservative person, that’s not really well known in the Democratic Party anymore,” Lee said. “And so for me to hang on as long as I did, hoping the party would change, it didn’t, it got worse.”
“Though I’ve been a registered Democrat on paper my entire life, I made the switch in my heart a long time ago, because on some things, there’s simply no compromise,” Lee said in a statement. “That’s why I voted for President Trump twice.”
Lee also claimed there had been a change in values within the Democratic Party.
“But like President Reagan and President Trump, I’ve seen firsthand how the Democrat Party has changed — radically, not for the better. They’ve embraced a socialist, extremist agenda that is not the party of JFK or my parents,” Lee said.
Lee also argued that the Democratic Party no longer welcomes conservative voices such as his and instead devotes its time to cancel culture, socialism and values that he considers anti-American.
“The Republican Party that’s emerged from President Trump’s leadership is a working class party of opportunity, freedom, and hope,” Lee stated. “I don’t just want that for my family — I want that for every Nevadan and American.”