Javadi Seeks Third Term as Democrat in Oregon District 32

Cyrus Javadi is seeking a third term in the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat, a party switch that has placed his race in District 32 at the center of state political attention. The district stretches from Astoria to Neskowin, and Javadi, 49, previously won the seat twice as a Republican. His change in affiliation follows a series of legislative moves last year that alienated some party regulars while aligning him with new supporters.

Javadi altered his standing with the Republican Party in two distinct steps. First, he cast the deciding vote to advance Gov. Tina Kotek’s package of transportation tax and fee increases, which included a 6-cent gas tax hike. Second, he formally changed his party registration to Democrat. Javadi stated that he concluded new funding was necessary to repair the wind- and rain-damaged roads in his district, a view that clashed with the traditional Republican stance on tax increases.

The political balance in District 32 is tight. Although there are approximately 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, the margin has not guaranteed victory for either side. Republicans took the seat in 2020 after Democrats held it for 16 years. With roughly 55,800 registered voters, nonaffiliated residents outnumber members of both major parties, making them a decisive bloc. Javadi has focused his outreach on these unaffiliated voters by canvassing neighborhoods along the coast.

Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo, is the Republican candidate. Sherman emphasizes his background in agriculture, fishing, and forestry, which he identifies as the region's economic foundations. His campaign pairs standard Republican themes, such as cutting regulation and ending DEI initiatives, with criticism of Javadi’s shifting positions. Sherman described the race as a total toss-up that could be a nail-biter.

Local party leaders have reacted sharply to Javadi’s departure. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, who helped elect Javadi in 2022 and 2024, labeled him an opportunist. She noted that Javadi, who once opposed taxes and abortion, is now endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Reactions among local Republicans range from anger to relief. Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator who represented the area for two decades, has also endorsed Sherman in television advertisements.

Financially, the race has become one of the most expensive in the state. Both candidates have raised more than $1 million, allowing them to purchase advertising in the Portland market that reaches the district. Javadi presents his political evolution as a strength, citing his upbringing in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and his growing disagreement with Republican colleagues. He supported a Democratic bill to make it harder for school districts to ban books, citing his gay son, and helped argue for a measure using taxes on healthcare providers to raise federal Medicaid funding.

Voters rejected the transportation tax package by a landslide in May. Javadi maintains that the state needs more money for roads but argues the vote showed a preference for repairs without a gas tax increase. He reports that the vote rarely comes up during his door-to-door visits, even when he meets 30 or 40 people in a single day. His campaign asserts that he stands by his values, a message that has drawn support from some Democrats, including a Tillamook resident who described herself as a big-time liberal. Javadi uses artificial intelligence as an editor and organizer for his lengthy Substack posts, which explain his changes in position. He plans to continue knocking on doors until Election Day.