Javadi Seeks Third Term in District 32 as Democrat

Nearly 55,800 residents in a stretch of Oregon's coast will soon decide the fate of a legislative seat that has become a focal point for state political observers. The election for House District 32 is shaping up to be the most expensive house race in the state this year, with both major candidates raising over one million dollars to fund their campaigns.

The financial scale of this contest is notable for a regional election. This funding has allowed the candidates to purchase advertisements in the Portland market, ensuring their messages reach a broader audience. The high cost reflects the intense attention the race has received due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the incumbent's bid for reelection.

The central figure in this drama is Cyrus Javadi, a 49-year-old legislator who previously won this district twice as a Republican. He is now seeking a third term registered as a Democrat. This switch followed a pivotal move last year where he cast the deciding vote to advance Governor Tina Kotek's transportation funding package. That legislation included a gas tax increase of six cents per gallon, a measure that drew significant opposition across the state.

Javadi explained his change in affiliation by citing the need for new revenue to repair roads damaged by wind and rain. However, local Republican leaders have not been silent on the matter. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, described the move as opportunistic. She noted that Javadi previously opposed taxes and abortion but now holds an endorsement from Planned Parenthood. Reactions among local party members have ranged from anger to a sense of relief.

Challenging Javadi is Max Sherman, a 69-year-old former high school teacher and farmer from Hebo. Sherman positions himself as a candidate focused on the economic engines of the North Coast, specifically agriculture, fishing, and forestry. While he agrees that funding for the state transportation department is essential, he contrasts himself with Javadi by running as an anti-tax candidate. His campaign also emphasizes standard Republican priorities, such as reducing regulation and dismantling diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Sherman has characterized the election as a close race that could end in a tight finish. He points to a loss of public confidence in Javadi as a key factor. He has also gained support from Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator who represented the area for twenty years. Johnson, who ran for governor as an independent in 2022, has featured Javadi's shifting positions in television advertisements.

The voting dynamics in the district are complex. Although registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by approximately 2,000, this margin has not guaranteed Democratic victories in recent cycles. In fact, Republicans took control of the seat in 2020 after sixteen years of Democratic dominance. Nonaffiliated voters make up the largest group among the district's electorate and may prove decisive. This reality has led Javadi to focus heavily on direct outreach, often visiting dozens of households in a single day.

Javadi views his political evolution as a strength rather than a weakness. He grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and said he eventually found his former party's arguments less convincing. Last year, he supported a bill to make it harder for school districts to ban books, a move he linked to his identity as a parent of a gay son. He also helped argue for a measure that would use taxes on healthcare providers to boost federal Medicaid funding.

Despite the voters' rejection of the transportation tax package in May, Javadi maintains that the state needs additional money for infrastructure. He believes the recent vote indicated that residents want repaired roads but not necessarily through a gas tax hike. He says this specific issue rarely comes up during his door-to-door canvassing. He plans to continue this direct contact with voters until Election Day, relying on a strategy that emphasizes his personal values and his use of digital tools to organize his thoughts.