In a striking move that underscores both political and personal conviction, Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi has announced he is leaving the Republican Party to join the Democrats.
Javadi, who represents the state’s 32nd District, detailed his decision in a candid Substack essay, citing rising extremism in the GOP, personal safety concerns, and the party’s treatment of marginalised groups — including his own gay son.
“Enough of politics as performance art. Enough of refusing to govern. Enough of isolating vulnerable communities when it’s politically convenient,” Javadi wrote.
A Breaking Point in 2025
Javadi’s rift with Republicans came to a head during Oregon’s 2025 legislative session, when he diverged from his colleagues on several high-profile votes.
He was the only Republican to support a bill banning discriminatory book bans, which prevents schools from removing titles representing LGBTQ+, Black, Muslim, and other historically marginalised communities.
For Javadi, it was personal.
“One of my kids is gay. And I thought about what it would mean if he went to the school library and couldn’t find a single story where someone like him existed.”
The bill, now signed by Governor Tina Kotek, drew fierce opposition from conservatives who framed it as allowing “pornography in schools” — a claim Javadi dismissed as misleading.
Facing Backlash
Javadi’s support for LGBTQ+ and cultural recognition bills — including a resolution honouring Black drag performers — triggered a recall campaign from former supporters. Soon after, his dental clinic window was smashed.
“The fury wasn’t a surprise. It was a confirmation,” he wrote. “For months now, the Republican Party’s message has been simple: we don’t care what the problem is, just vote no—or else.”
Fearing for his family’s safety and disillusioned by what he called the GOP’s “cruelty” and “opportunism,” Javadi made the break.
Still a Centrist, Not a Liberal
While Javadi has formally joined the Democrats, he stressed that his personal ideology remains mixed.
He has supported conservative causes in the past, including a 2024 bill to ban most abortions after 15 weeks and backing the recriminalisation of drug possession, which has led to thousands of arrests. His stance on these issues has drawn scepticism from progressives.
Still, some voters see growth. Oregonian Ketzel Levine, once critical of Javadi’s anti-abortion stance, told the Oregon Capital Chronicle:
“I’m beginning to trust him in a way that I never did before. I would like to think that what I’m seeing now is a more compassionate and genuine representative.”
More Than Politics
With his switch, Democrats now hold 37 of 60 seats in the Oregon House. But Javadi insists the move is about something deeper than political math.
“I love my son. And I refuse to be part of a movement that would tell him he’s less than. That his story doesn’t belong. That he shouldn’t be seen.”
Javadi’s defection signals a rare act of political defiance in an era of deep partisanship — and a reminder that personal conviction can reshape even long-held party lines.
