Death threats, stalking and vandalism — Oregon legislator pays a price for crossing the aisle

Published 11:00 am Friday, December 19, 2025

Rep. Cyrus Javadi switched parties and raised the ire of some

On Friday, Sept. 5, now over three months ago, Cyrus Javadi, the state representative elected to serve Oregon’s North Coast in Salem, did something rarely seen in modern politics. He left the Republican Party and announced he was switching parties and would seek reelection as a Democrat. The announcement sparked mixed reactions from a swath of constituents on both sides: heated debate, calls for resignation and praise. In the lead up and aftermath of his decision, Javadi has faced — and is facing still — levels of harassment and threats not frequently seen in state government.

On Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, Javadi entered his dental clinic in Tillamook to a scene of broken glass. The day prior, he had cast the deciding vote in favor of a controversial Democratic transportation package in the state house. He had yet to announce his departure from the Republican Party — something he would do later that week.

“Tuesday morning when we came in, one of the windows at the office had been shattered,” said Javadi. Nobody claimed responsibility, and Javadi said it could have been a coincidence. But the timing seemed oddly coincidental, and local authorities also harbored suspicions that the vandalism may have been politically motivated.

It was not the first — or the last time — Javadi said he has faced intimidation.

“I was followed around town for the better part of the month leading up to and after the (transportation) vote,” said Javadi. “To the point where I had to get a different car.” He hoped switching cars would take some of the heat off. However, concerning events continued to arise.

“My kids were getting harassed at school by their friends, whose parents were talking about stuff,” said Javadi.

Death threats have also become a not-uncommon occurrence for the representative — usually over social media platforms like Facebook. In response, he has taken action to secure his home and reported the threats to capitol police at the state house, members of Oregon State Police.

“Sometimes I get pretty concerned,” said Javadi. “Especially given (that) Minnesota had lawmakers targeted and murdered.”

On June 14, Democratic Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were murdered in their home by a politically motivated gunman. Earlier that morning, the gunman shot and attempted to murder Democratic Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

“On levels of concern … Some days I’m a 10,” said Javadi. “Most days I don’t worry too much about it and I am at a two or three.”

Moments that really give him pause are when a “match spark” event happens, said Javadi. Moments like the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

“You wonder if people are going to respond; are they going to say, ‘The Democrats killed Charlie Kirk; we’re gonna act out,’” said Javadi. “And if I’m on the top of somebody’s mind, if I’m a target … . I’m definitely more on guard around those times.”

Often, people are willing to be threatening and nasty on social media but don’t display the same hostility in person, Javadi said. 

“When we see the President of the United States or governors or elected officials casting stones or riling up the base and then rewarding their actions with praise or applause,” said Javadi, “that I think is dangerous, and I think that leads to something even worse than where we are now.”

Javadi says he is less concerned about people who are loud and threatening on social media. 

“I think there are few who want to take it even further (than social media),” he said.

The real people that worry him are the quiet ones, people who don’t express their views and instead stew in them silently before potentially committing a violent act.

“And that is what is so hard to guard against,” said Javadi.

In his first three years in the state legislature, before he began breaking rank with Republicans on key votes, Javadi said he had never received any death threats. When he joined the Democratic Party in September, Javadi said he asked his new political allies, “Is it always like this?”

“They said, ‘No.’ Most of them don’t generally have a lot of angry threats,” said Javadi. “But there are a few, and it seems like if you’re lucky enough to be elevated to a level of villain by the Republicans — and you keep that status — then the threats get nastier.”

Javadi said not caving to violent threats meant to affect his policy decisions, despite harassment and concern for his well-being and the well-being of his family, is the right move.

“There are so many people out there hoping someone will just show up and say the right thing, or do the right thing, or stand up and say, ‘There’s a better way,’” said Javadi. “I think that hope is worth fighting for. And I don’t think there is any cost that’s too high to pay to do what’s right.”