Oregon Coast House Race Costs $2 Million as Javadi Defends Party Flip

Cyrus Javadi is asking voters in Oregon’s coastal House District 32 to elect him a third time, but this time as a Democrat. The 49-year-old lawmaker previously won the seat twice as a Republican. His party switch and the subsequent spending war have turned the race into one of the most expensive House contests in the state this year, with both candidates raising more than $1 million.

The shift in Javadi’s political alignment began last year. He cast the deciding vote to pass Governor Tina Kotek’s transportation tax package, which included a 6-cent increase in the gas tax. Shortly after, he changed his party registration to Democrat. Javadi stated that he believed new funding was necessary to repair roads in his district that are damaged by wind and rain.

The district, which extends from Astoria south to Neskowin, has a voting population of roughly 55,800. Although there are about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, the margin has not guaranteed victory for either party in recent elections. Nonaffiliated voters make up the largest group in the district. Javadi has focused his campaign on canvassing these independent households along the coast.

Republican candidate Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo, challenges Javadi’s record. Sherman highlights his experience in agriculture, fishing, and forestry. He positions himself as an anti-tax candidate who will cut regulation and eliminate DEI initiatives. Sherman criticized Javadi’s shifting stance, noting that many local residents have lost trust in him.

Local party leaders have reacted sharply to Javadi’s move. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, who helped elect Javadi in 2022 and 2024, called him an opportunist. She noted that he was previously opposed to taxes and abortion but is now endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Former state legislator Betsy Johnson also supports Sherman, appearing in television ads.

Javadi argues that his evolution is a strength. He was raised in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and said he found Republican arguments increasingly unconvincing. He supported a Democratic bill to protect school book selections, citing his gay son. He also backed a measure to use taxes on healthcare providers to raise federal Medicaid funding. Javadi was the only Republican to support Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation plan.

Voters rejected the transportation tax package by a large margin in May. Javadi maintains that the state needs more money for road repairs but believes the vote indicated a preference for fixing infrastructure without a gas tax hike. His campaign says the topic rarely comes up during door-to-door meetings, even when he speaks with 30 or 40 people in a single day.

Sherman described the contest as a total toss-up that could be a nail-biter. The high level of fundraising has allowed both campaigns to purchase advertising in the Portland market. Javadi plans to continue knocking on doors until Election Day, relying on a strategy that emphasizes his personal values and consistent communication through his Substack.