Two Candidates Raise $1 Million Each in Oregon's District 32 House Race

House District 32 candidates Cyrus Javadi and Max Sherman have each raised more than $1 million. This spending level positions the coastal Oregon contest to become the state's most expensive House race in 2026. Both campaigns have used their war chests to purchase television advertisements in the Portland market, ensuring their messages reach voters across the district.

Javadi, 49, is seeking reelection after winning the seat twice as a Republican. He changed his party registration to Democrat last year. The switch followed his decision to provide the deciding vote for Gov. Tina Kotek's transportation tax package. That package included a 6-cent increase in the gas tax, a measure that drew significant opposition in the district.

Javadi stated that new revenue was necessary to repair the wind- and rain-battered roads in his district. He noted that without the tax increases, no additional aid would reach the infrastructure. The district stretches from Astoria south to Neskowin. It contains roughly 55,800 registered voters. Nonaffiliated voters outnumber both major parties in the area.

Sherman, 69, is a farmer and retired high school teacher from Hebo. He represents the Republican side of the race. His campaign focuses on agriculture, fishing, and forestry, which he identifies as the economic engines of the North Coast. He combines standard Republican themes, such as cutting regulation and dismantling DEI initiatives, with specific criticism of Javadi's recent positions.

"A lot of people here have lost trust in him," Sherman said. He positions himself as an anti-tax candidate who still views funding the Oregon Department of Transportation as a priority. His campaign describes the race as a total toss-up that could be a nail-biter.

Local political figures have weighed in on the shift. Lisa Lamping, chair of the Clatsop County Republicans, described Javadi as an opportunist. She noted that he once opposed taxes and abortion but is now endorsed by Planned Parenthood. Lamping said reactions among local Republicans range from anger to good riddance. Betsy Johnson, a former Democratic legislator, has also endorsed Sherman in television ads.

Javadi presents his party switch as a strength rather than a liability. He grew up in a conservative Mormon family in Utah and said he found his former Republican colleagues' arguments increasingly unconvincing. Last year, he supported a Democratic bill making 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.

Voters rejected the $4.3 billion transportation tax package by a landslide in May. Javadi believes the state still needs more money for roads but says the vote indicated that voters want repairs without the gas tax increase. He reported that the tax vote rarely comes up during his daily canvassing, which can involve meeting 30 or 40 people per day.

The race continues until Election Day. Javadi plans to keep knocking on doors. His campaign promotes the message that he stands by his values. He writes lengthy Substack posts explaining his changes of position, stating that he uses artificial intelligence mainly as an editor and organizer while writing the bulk of each entry himself.