ANOTHER Republican lawmaker flips to become a Democrat
Republican lawmaker flips to become a Democrat
Story by Andrew Stanton
• 1h •
4 min read
A photograph shows Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi.© Courtesy Rep. Javadi's office
Oregon state Representative Cyrus Javadi has left the Republican Party to become a Democrat, he announced this week.
In a statement to Newsweek, Javadi said he "switched because the Republican Party abandoned the principles that drew me to it in the first place: limited government, fiscal responsibility, free speech, free trade, and, above all, the rule of law."
Newsweek reached out to the state GOP for comment via email.
Why It MattersJavadi's party switch increases the Democratic supermajority in the Oregon House to 37 out of 60 seats, weakening Republican influence in the state, which remains a liberal bastion.
Party switches in the U.S. are relatively rare, but there have been several lawmakers who have changed their affiliations over the past few years. Since 2024, at least three other elected Republicans have left the party to become independents. Meanwhile, at least eight Democrats have left the party in the same time frame.
What To KnowJavadi first announced his party switch in a September 5 Substack post, writing that it was the Republican Party, not himself, that changed. While the average Republicans he knows "want good things" like good jobs and safe streets, the party apparatus is "headed somewhere else entirely," he wrote.
"It's not about governing. It's about burning things down. It's about isolating minority communities when politically convenient. It's about waving the Constitution when it helps your argument and ignoring it when it doesn't," he wrote. "That's not conservative. That's opportunistic. And it corrodes everything it touches."
He told Newsweek that the GOP is turning away from "constitutional conservatism."
"What we're seeing nationally, and increasingly in statehouses like ours, is a party that's turned away from constitutional conservatism and toward something darker: fear-mongering over problem-solving, slogans over substance, and performative outrage instead of real governance," he said.
The GOP has become "less about ideas" and "more about defending one man's ego," he said.
"Friends and family tell me they're worried, and they should be. They see people being detained without due process. Public servants harassed. Fundamental rights treated like bargaining chips. Government is supposed to protect our freedoms, not take them away. I can't be part of a party that cheerleads for that kind of power grab while calling it patriotism," he said.
He pointed to issues including health care, funding for roads and bridges, and education as key concerns facing his constituents.
"They needed someone to fight for Medicaid access and basic infrastructure. Instead, I was told to fall in line. To vote no. To create chaos for the sake of the next election," he said. "That's not leadership. That's not conservatism. That's not why I ran."
He said he does not agree with Democrats on every issue but believes they are "the only party right now willing to govern" and has "found more common ground with Democrats who are serious about solving problems than with Republicans who are more interested in stoking outrage and obstructing progress."
During the most recent legislative session, Javadi sided with House Democrats on several high-profile vote s, including support for Democratic Governor Tina Kotek's package of tax and fee increases to provide funding for road maintenance and a vote on a health care provider tax tied to federal Medicaid funding.
Javadi represents a competitive coastal district that includes Tillamook and other North Coast communities such as Astoria. Although it elected him as a Republican, it also backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by about five points in last November's election.
He was facing backlash from some of his more conservative constituents, some of whom have sought to recall him from office, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).
What People Are SayingOregon state Representative Cyrus Javadi told Newsweek: "So why join the Democrats? Because they're the only party right now willing to govern. I don't agree with every Democratic policy, I still hold many of the same views I always have. But I've found more common ground with Democrats who are serious about solving problems than with Republicans who are more interested in stoking outrage and obstructing progress.
"If I want to keep doing the work, actual, practical, service-oriented work, this is the only place I can do it.
"My values haven't changed. But the party I belonged to did. So I made a choice: keep serving my constituents with honesty, or keep pretending I didn't see what was happening. I chose honesty."
The Evergreen PAC, the House Republicans' campaign arm, in a statement to The Oregon Capital Chronicle: "That mission is not affected by today's announcement. Instead it strengthens our work, and our caucus, to advance those ideals by giving the north coast the opportunity to support a new leader who will put the needs of their communities above themselves."
Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey, a Democrat, on X: "Rep. Javadi's commitment to problem solving has served his district well, and I'm excited to see what he'll accomplish as a member of the House Democratic Caucus. His experience and expertise, particularly in health care, will continue to be a real asset to this chamber."
What Happens NextJavadi said he plans to run for reelection as a Democrat. How competitive that race becomes and whether he faces a primary challenge from a fellow Democrat is yet to be seen.
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