$1 Million Raised as Oregon Lawmaker Tests Party Switch in District 32

House District 32, a coastal Oregon region stretching from Astoria to Neskowin, is becoming a focal point for state political observers. The upcoming election will test whether a lawmaker who recently changed his party affiliation can secure a third term in the face of local skepticism.

Cyrus Javadi, 49, has won this seat twice as a Republican. He is now running as a Democrat, a shift that has made his campaign a prominent topic in state politics. Javadi changed his party registration last year after providing the key vote to pass Governor Tina Kotek’s transportation tax and fee package. That package included a 6-cent gas tax increase that many voters disliked. Javadi stated that he believed new revenue was necessary to repair the district's wind and rain damaged roads.

The district contains approximately 55,800 voters. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 2,000, but this margin has not guaranteed Democratic victories in recent years. Republicans took control of the seat in 2020 after Democrats held it for 16 years. Nonaffiliated voters make up the largest group in the district and may decide the outcome. Javadi has been canvassing neighborhoods along the coast to reach these independent voters.

Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo, is the Republican challenger. Sherman highlights his background in agriculture, fishing, and forestry as evidence of his understanding of the local economy. His campaign emphasizes reducing regulation and ending diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He also criticizes Javadi for changing his political stance. Sherman said, "A lot of people here have lost trust in him." Like Javadi, Sherman supports funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation, but he presents himself as an anti-tax candidate.

Local party leaders have noted the division caused by Javadi’s switch. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, who helped elect Javadi in 2022 and 2024, described him as an opportunist. She noted that he once opposed taxes and abortion but is now endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Lamping said local Republican reactions range from anger to relief. Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator who represented the area for 20 years, has also endorsed Sherman in television advertisements.

Both candidates have raised more than $1 million for their campaigns. This funding level may make the contest the most expensive House race in the state this year. The money has allowed both teams to purchase advertising in the Portland market, which reaches a large portion of the district. Sherman described the race as a total toss-up that could be a close finish.

Javadi frames his political evolution as a strength rather than a weakness. He grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and said he found his Republican colleagues' arguments increasingly unconvincing. Last year, he supported a Democratic bill that made it harder for school districts to ban books, citing his gay son. He also supported a measure using taxes on healthcare providers to increase federal Medicaid funding. Javadi was the only Republican to support Kotek's $4.3 billion transportation tax plan, saying the benefits of acting correctly outweighed the political risks.

Voters rejected the tax package by a wide margin in May. Javadi maintains that the state needs more money for road repairs but notes that the vote indicated a preference for fixes without a gas tax increase. He said the issue rarely comes up during his daily door knocking, even when he meets 30 or 40 people in a single day. His campaign is promoting the message that he stands by his personal values. Some Democrats, including a self-described big-time liberal in Tillamook, have welcomed his switch. Javadi, who writes detailed posts on Substack to explain his position changes, said he uses artificial intelligence primarily as an editor and organizer. He plans to continue knocking on doors until Election Day.