Javadi Seeks House Seat Again as a Democrat in Swing District

Cyrus Javadi is running for the Oregon House again, but this time he is on the Democratic line. The 49-year-old legislator previously won his coastal district twice as a Republican. Now he asks voters in House District 32 to send him back to Salem with a new party label.

The shift in his political identity happened quickly last year. Javadi cast the deciding vote to pass Governor Tina Kotek’s transportation funding package. That plan included a six-cent gas tax hike that many residents disliked. Shortly after, he changed his official registration to Democrat. He explained that the region’s damaged roads needed new revenue to be repaired.

The district covers a long stretch from Astoria to Neskowin. It is politically competitive. While there are about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, the seat has changed hands recently. Republicans took control in 2020 after Democrats held it for 16 years. Nonaffiliated voters make up the largest group in the district. With roughly 55,800 registered voters, these unaligned individuals could decide the outcome. Javadi has spent time walking neighborhoods to reach them.

His main opponent is Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired teacher from Hebo. Sherman runs as a Republican. He highlights his background in agriculture, fishing, and forestry as proof that he understands the local economy. His campaign focuses on cutting regulations and ending diversity initiatives. He also questions Javadi’s consistency. Sherman says many locals have lost trust in Javadi due to his changing views. He supports funding the state DOT but presents himself as an anti-tax candidate.

Local party leaders are watching the race closely. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, helped elect Javadi in 2022 and 2024. She now calls him an opportunist. She notes that he used to oppose taxes and abortion but is now supported by Planned Parenthood. Reactions among local Republicans range from anger to relief. Betsy Johnson, a former Democrat who served the area for 20 years, has also backed Sherman in television ads.

Money is playing a major role in this contest. Both candidates have raised over one million dollars. This may make it the most expensive House race in the state this year. The funds allow them to buy ads in the Portland market, which reaches voters in the district. Sherman describes the race as a total toss-up that could be very close.

Javadi frames his change of party as a sign of growth. He grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah. He said he became less convinced by Republican arguments over time. Last year, he supported a Democratic bill that made it harder for school districts to ban books. He cited his gay son as a reason. He also backed a measure using taxes on healthcare providers to raise federal Medicaid money. He was the only Republican to support the governor’s four-point-three billion dollar transportation plan. He said the right action was worth the political risk.

Voters rejected that tax package by a wide margin in May. Javadi still believes the state needs more money for roads. However, he says the vote showed that people want repairs without a gas tax increase. He reports that the topic rarely comes up during his door-to-door visits, even when he meets dozens of people daily. His campaign argues that he stands by his core values. Some Democrats, including a self-described liberal in Tillamook, have welcomed his switch. Javadi writes long posts on Substack to explain his changes. He uses artificial intelligence to edit and organize these posts but writes most of them himself. He plans to keep knocking on doors until Election Day.