State Republican Chair Steps Down, Cites 'Toxicity..Lies..Mutiny'

SALEM, OR — No one would ever confuse Dallas Heard with a liberal. Or a Democrat. The state Senator from Myrtle Creek was kicked off the senate floor during sessions in December and February because he refused to wear a mask.

Heard is not only a Republican, he is the head of the Oregon Republican Party.

Until Friday.

In a blistering letter to colleagues on Wednesday, Heard said that he is resigning as party head. He added that he's keeping his seat.

"My physical and spiritual health can no longer survive exposure to the toxicity that can be found in this community," he wrote.

"I must warn you good people in our party that we truly have an equal if not greater evil than the Democrats walking among us."

Heard said that his spirit has been broken by "the endless slander, gossip, conspiracies, sabotage, lies, hatred, pointless blocking of ideas, and mutiny brought against my administration.

"Communist psychological warfare tactics are being used daily within the party. I will say that ignoring the wickedness within our organization would be a mistake."

In his letter, Heard does not name names or refer to specific incidents. The one known dispute that he's had with the parts – first reported by Willamette Week – was that the party refused to back his desire to run for governor this year.

He is one year into what was supposed to be a two-year term.