Over $1 Million Spent in Oregon House Race as Party-Switching Lawmaker Faces Re-election

The race for Oregon House District 32 has become one of the most expensive in the state, with both major candidates having raised more than $1 million. This significant spending allows them to purchase television ads in the Portland market, a strategy that extends their reach into the coastal district. The high cost reflects the intensity of the contest, which local observers describe as a total toss-up that could result in a very close final count.

At the center of this financial surge is Cyrus Javadi, a 49-year-old lawmaker who has won his district twice as a Republican. He is now seeking a third term as a Democrat. Javadi changed his party registration last year after providing the crucial vote for Governor Tina Kotek’s transportation tax package. That package included a 6-cent gas tax increase, a measure that faced widespread opposition. Javadi argued that new revenue was necessary to fix the wind-battered roads in his district. He has since framed his political evolution as a strength, citing his upbringing in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and his growing disagreement with Republican colleagues on issues like book bans and Medicaid funding.

Challenging Javadi is Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo. Sherman campaigns as an anti-tax candidate while acknowledging the need to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation. His platform emphasizes the North Coast’s economic engines, specifically agriculture, fishing, and forestry. He also highlights standard Republican themes such as cutting regulation and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Sherman argues that many local voters have lost trust in Javadi due to his shifting positions. He describes the race as a nail-biter, noting the tight margins in recent elections.

The district’s voter composition makes the outcome uncertain. While there are about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, Republicans flipped the seat in 2020 after Democrats held it for 16 years. Nonaffiliated voters outnumber both parties among the roughly 55,800 registered voters. Because this group could prove decisive, Javadi has focused on canvassing neighborhoods along the coast. He reports meeting as many as 30 or 40 people in a single day. Javadi notes that the May vote rejecting the tax package rarely comes up during these door-to-door conversations, despite the landslide result.

Local political figures have taken sides in the dispute. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, described Javadi as an opportunist who has shifted from opposing taxes to receiving an endorsement from Planned Parenthood. She said reactions among local Republicans range from anger to relief. Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator who represented the area for two decades, has endorsed Sherman in television ads. Some Democrats, including a self-described big-time liberal in Tillamook, have welcomed Javadi’s switch. Javadi continues to write lengthy posts on Substack to explain his changes in position, using artificial intelligence primarily as an editor and organizer while writing the bulk of the content himself.

Both candidates are preparing for a tight finish as Election Day approaches. Javadi plans to keep knocking on doors until the final vote, maintaining that he stands by his values. Sherman is pushing his message of local economic expertise and fiscal restraint. The outcome will likely depend on how many nonaffiliated voters turn out and how they weigh Javadi’s party switch against Sherman’s experience in traditional industries. The race serves as a microcosm for the broader debates over taxation and infrastructure in the state.