Javadi and Sherman each raise over $1 million in Oregon District 32

Cyrus Javadi and Max Sherman have each raised more than $1 million for their bid to represent Oregon House District 32. The total spending could make this the state’s most expensive House race of the year. The funds have allowed both campaigns to purchase advertising space in the Portland market, which covers the coastal district.

Javadi, 49, previously won the seat twice as a Republican. He is now running as a Democrat after changing his party registration last year. The switch followed his support for a package of transportation tax and fee increases proposed by Gov. Tina Kotek. Javadi stated he concluded that new money was necessary to repair roads in his district, which stretches from Astoria to Neskowin.

Sherman, 69, is a farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo. He describes agriculture, fishing, and forestry as the economic engines of the North Coast. His campaign emphasizes cutting regulation and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He also criticizes Javadi for changing positions. Sherman said, "A lot of people here have lost trust in him." He casts himself as an anti-tax candidate while acknowledging the need to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation.

The district contains approximately 55,800 voters. There are about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, but that margin has not decided recent elections. Republicans flipped the seat in 2020 after Democrats held it for 16 years. Nonaffiliated voters outnumber both parties in the district. Javadi has been canvassing neighborhoods along the coast to reach these undecided voters.

Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, described Javadi as an opportunist. Lamping worked to elect Javadi in 2022 and 2024. She noted that reactions among local Republicans range from anger to "good riddance." She pointed out that Javadi once opposed taxes and abortion but is now endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator, has also endorsed Sherman in television ads.

Javadi frames his party switch as a result of his personal evolution. He grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah. He said he found Republican arguments unconvincing over time. Last year, he supported a Democratic bill that made it harder for school districts to ban books, citing his gay son. He also helped argue for a measure using taxes on healthcare providers to raise federal Medicaid funding.

Javadi was the only Republican to back Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation tax plan. He said the reward for doing the right thing was worth the potential costs. Voters rejected that tax package by a landslide in May. Javadi said the vote showed that voters want roads and bridges fixed without a 6-cent gas tax. He said the topic rarely comes up during his daily door-knocking, even when he meets as many as 30 or 40 people.

Sherman called the race a total toss-up that could be a nail-biter. Javadi’s campaign is promoting the message that he stands by his values. Some Democrats have welcomed the switch, including a Tillamook resident who described herself as a big-time liberal. Javadi has written lengthy Substack posts explaining his changes of position. He said he uses artificial intelligence mainly as an editor and organizer while writing the bulk of each entry himself. He plans to continue knocking on doors until Election Day.