I mean... I'm not totally against the idea of "party X failed us over and over, let's try something new". It's a reasonable take even if it wouldn't be the first thing I look at.
But anybody who thinks in those terms would certainly never vote Republican for President. It's been like 30 years of Republican presidents leaving the country (and especially the economy) in shambles and Democratic presidents presiding over recoveries.
...but even that is a matter of (biased) opinion. I think the argument this politician is referring to is that, while to your point the country has had significant setbacks under republican leadership, the cities (and states) lead largely or wholly by democrats have certainly fared worse, especially in economically and racially diverse communities. The democrat's compassionate big ideas seem like, at best, pandering empty promises and, at worst, a systematic and systemic model of oppression that keeps democrats in power and undermines the underclass. Welfare has not helped anyone out of poverty, massive education spending has not increased graduation rates in "under served" areas despite huge per-student budgets, gun control has not stopped gun violence and the list goes on.
of course, this goes both ways - the war on drugs is similarly a failing of minority communities lead largely by conservatives but with massive buy-in from most democratic politicians. Just look at Biden's record as a senator for 35+ years and Kamala Harris' track record on criminal justice as an attorney general. Where was their progressive sense of liberal compassion during all that time?
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