State Representative Cyrus Javadi has announced he will seek reelection as a Democrat.
The former Tillamook Republican switched his registration ahead of a Sept 4 deadline in order to run as a Democrat in next year’s election.
Javadi made the announcement in a Facebook post Friday morning, writing that, “I didn’t run for office to chant slogans or toe a party line.” He wrote that he ran to address road infrastructure issues, keep hospitals open, ensure safe neighborhoods, expand housing and defend free speech.
“Somewhere along the way, my party stopped caring about those things,” he wrote. “I haven’t changed. They have.”
Earlier this week, he joined Democrats to cast a decisive vote in favor of a bill in front of the Oregon House to fund road maintenance and avoid major layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation. He was the only Republican to cross party lines.
At the time, he acknowledged the decision could make it difficult to win reelection as a Republican.