Republican state Sen. Dallas Heard resigns from Legislature

State Sen. Dallas Heard, R- Roseburg, has resigned from his position, citing a desire to spend more time with his children.

Heard, who abruptly stepped down as Oregon GOP chair earlier this year, wrote a one-sentence statement to announce his resignation Thursday. In a statement provided by the Senate Republican Caucus, Heard expanded further.

"I have decided that I need to retire for now from this level of public service, until my children are at an age where they are more ready to face the world on their own," Heard wrote. "My family must have my undivided attention."

Heard was appointed to the State Senate in 2018 after Sen. Jeff Kruse resigned following sexual harassment allegations.

Heard was an outspoken opponent of COVID-19 safety measures. In 2021, he participated in protests against mask mandates and vaccine passports. In 2022, he was excluded from the Senate floor and the state Capitol during the legislative session for refusing to wear a mask.

He stepped down in March as chair of the Oregon Republican Party, citing "communist psychological warfare tactics” within his own party and a "wickedness within" that was stifling the party.

In his resignation letter, Heard thanked his constituents for their support and urged "freedom-loving men and women" to run for local elections.

"We have been losing this state and nation because collectively we are doing almost nothing to fight the good fight," Heard wrote.

He added that he would run for elected office again after his children had "matured."

Heard's term was set to end in 2025. His resignation is effective Jan. 1. Potential replacements to serve the rest of his term will be nominated early next year and county commissioners from District 1 will appoint his replacement.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Dallas Heard, Oregon Republican state senator, resigns