Oregon Politics: A Former GOP House Member Races as a Democrat on the North Coast

The political landscape in coastal Oregon is shifting in a race that has drawn intense attention from observers across the state. Cyrus Javadi, who has held his legislative seat for the past two cycles as a Republican, is now seeking re-election as a Democrat. This unusual party switch has turned his bid into a focal point for analysts and voters alike.

House District 32 covers a stretch of the coast from Astoria down to Neskowin. Javadi, who is 49, changed his affiliation following two significant moves last year. He cast the deciding vote to pass transportation tax and fee increases proposed by Governor Tina Kotek. That package included a 6-cent gas tax hike that was unpopular with many residents. Shortly after, he updated his party registration to Democrat. He explained that the district’s roads, battered by wind and rain, required new funding to secure repairs.

The electoral math in this district is complex. There are approximately 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, yet this numerical advantage did not guarantee a Democratic win in recent years. Republicans took control of the seat in 2020 after a 16-year Democratic hold. With nonaffiliated voters making up the largest group among the roughly 55,800 registered voters, their choices could determine the outcome. This dynamic has led Javadi to spend significant time canvassing neighborhoods along the shoreline.

The Republican challenger is Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and former high school teacher from Hebo. Sherman highlights his background in agriculture, fishing, and forestry, sectors he views as the economic backbone of the North Coast. His campaign mixes traditional Republican themes, such as reducing regulation and ending DEI programs, with direct criticism of Javadi’s changing stances. Sherman noted that many residents feel their trust in Javadi has eroded. He agrees that funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation is essential, though he positions himself as a candidate opposed to new taxes.

Local party leaders have mixed feelings about the defection. Lisa Lamping, the Clatsop County Republican chair who helped elect Javadi in 2022 and 2024, described him as an opportunist. She pointed out that he previously opposed taxes and abortion but now has the endorsement of Planned Parenthood. Reactions within the local GOP range from anger to relief. Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator who represented the area for twenty years, has also thrown her support behind Sherman in television advertisements.

Financially, this contest is expected to be the most expensive House race in the state this year. Both candidates have raised over $1 million. This funding allows them to purchase advertisements in the Portland market, which includes the district. Sherman characterized the race as a total toss-up that could be extremely close.

Javadi frames his political evolution as an asset rather than a liability. He grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and said he grew less convinced by his former colleagues’ arguments over time. Last year, he backed a Democratic bill making it harder for schools to ban books, citing his gay son. He also supported a measure using taxes on healthcare providers to boost federal Medicaid funding. As the only Republican to back the governor’s $4.3 billion transportation plan, he said the right thing was worth the potential political cost.

Voters rejected that tax package in a landslide vote in May. Javadi still believes the state needs more money for infrastructure, but he says the election result showed that voters want bridges and roads fixed without the 6-cent gas tax. He reports that the vote rarely comes up during his door-to-door visits, even when he meets with dozens of people daily. His team is pushing a message that he remains true to his values. Some Democrats, including self-described liberals in Tillamook, have embraced the switch. Javadi, who publishes long essays on his Substack, said he uses AI as an editor and organizer while writing most of the content himself. He intends to continue knocking on doors until Election Day.