Javadi Spends $1 Million to Defend Party Switch in Oregon House District 32

Cyrus Javadi is asking voters in Oregon House District 32 to return him to Salem as a Democrat after two terms as a Republican.

The 49-year-old incumbent has raised more than $1 million for his campaign, matching the fundraising total of his opponent, Max Sherman. This spending level may make the November contest the most expensive House race in the state this year. The financial resources have allowed both campaigns to purchase television and digital advertisements in the Portland market to reach coastal voters.

Javadi changed his party registration to Democrat last year after voting for Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation tax package. That legislation included a 6-cent increase in the state gas tax, a measure that was unpopular with many voters. Javadi stated that new funding was necessary to repair the wind-battered roads in his district. He was the only Republican to support Kotek’s $4.3 billion plan, arguing that the reward for doing the right thing outweighed the potential political costs.

Voters rejected the tax package by a landslide in May. Javadi maintains that the state needs more money for roads but acknowledges that the vote showed a preference for infrastructure repair without the gas tax increase. He reports that the issue rarely comes up during his daily canvassing, where he meets between 30 and 40 residents per day. His campaign promotes his evolution as a strength, noting he grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and found his former colleagues' arguments unconvincing.

Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo, is running as the Republican candidate. He describes agriculture, fishing, and forestry as the North Coast's economic engines and positions himself as an anti-tax candidate who still prioritizes funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Sherman criticizes Javadi for shifting positions, claiming that many local residents have lost trust in the incumbent. He calls the race a total toss-up that could be a nail-biter.

The district contains approximately 55,800 voters. While there are about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, nonaffiliated voters outnumber both parties and could decide the outcome. Republicans flipped the seat in 2020 after Democrats held it for 16 years. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, described Javadi as an opportunist who previously opposed taxes and abortion but is now endorsed by Planned Parenthood. She said local Republican reactions range from anger to relief.

Former state legislator Betsy Johnson, who represented the area for two decades, has endorsed Sherman in television ads. Javadi, who has written lengthy Substack posts explaining his changes of position, says he uses artificial intelligence primarily as an editor and organizer while writing most of the entries himself. He plans to continue knocking on doors until Election Day.

The race will determine control of a seat that stretches from Astoria to Neskowin. Both candidates have secured the necessary funds to run a high-volume media campaign, ensuring the contest will be heavily advertised in the coming weeks.