Oregon Rep. Cyrus Javadi Races as a Democrat in High-Cost Coast Fight

Cyrus Javadi is asking voters in Oregon's coastal House District 32 to send him back to Salem as a Democrat, a move that marks a sharp break from his two previous terms as a Republican. The 49-year-old lawmaker recently changed his party registration after providing the decisive vote to pass Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation tax package, which included a 6-cent increase in the state gas tax.

Javadi argued that new revenue was necessary to repair roads in his district, which spans from Astoria to Neskowin and suffers from wind and rain damage. Although the district has about 2,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, the margin has not guaranteed Democratic victories in recent elections. Nonaffiliated voters, who make up a large portion of the roughly 55,800 registered voters in the area, could determine the outcome.

Javadi faces Max Sherman, a 69-year-old farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo. Sherman, who works in agriculture, fishing, and forestry, positions himself as an anti-tax candidate who will cut regulation and dismantle DEI initiatives. He criticized Javadi's shifting political stance, noting that many local residents have lost trust in the incumbent. "A lot of people here have lost trust in him," Sherman said.

Local political figures have reacted strongly to Javadi's defection. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, described him as an opportunist who now holds endorsements from groups like Planned Parenthood, despite previously opposing taxes and abortion. Former state legislator Betsy Johnson, who represented the area for 20 years, has also backed Sherman in television advertisements.

The contest has become one of the most expensive in the state, with both candidates raising more than $1 million. This funding has allowed them to purchase ads in the Portland market, which reaches the coastal district. Sherman described the race as a total toss-up that could be a nail-biter for voters.

Javadi frames his party switch as a reflection of his personal values. He noted that he grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah but found Republican arguments less convincing over time. He recently supported a Democratic bill to protect books in schools, citing his gay son, and argued for using healthcare provider taxes to raise Medicaid funding. Although voters rejected the tax package in May, Javadi said he still believes the state needs more money for roads, though he acknowledges voters want repairs without the specific gas tax increase.

Javadi plans to continue knocking on doors until Election Day. He uses artificial intelligence to edit and organize his lengthy Substack posts, where he explains his policy changes. He says the gas tax vote rarely comes up during his daily meetings with 30 or 40 people in his district.