Javadi Leads Sherman in Oregon House Race After Party Switch and Voting for Gas Tax

Tillamook County, OR. — Oregon Rep. Cyrus Javadi leads Republican Max Sherman by 1,544 votes in unofficial returns for House District 32, putting the Tillamook lawmaker in position to win a third term and his first as a Democrat. Javadi switched parties last year, days after voting for Gov. Tina Kotek’s transportation package that included a gas tax increase. oregoncapitalchronicle.com

Javadi, who appeared on the ballot as the Democratic and Independent Party nominee, had 18,301 votes, or 52.09%, to Sherman’s 16,757 votes, or 47.69%. Write-in candidates received 78 votes, or 0.22%, bringing the tally to 35,136 votes. Results remain unofficial, and are reported as of 8 a.m. on November 4th.

Javadi was the only House Republican to vote for House Bill 3991 during the September 2025 special session. The package would have raised the state gas tax from 40 to 46 cents per gallon, increased vehicle title and registration fees and raised the payroll tax that funds public transit. Voters rejected those increases in May when they defeated Measure 120.

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When Javadi announced his switch, he said his priorities remained keeping hospitals open, repairing roads and bridges, expanding housing and defending free speech. The vote drew criticism from Republicans, including Astoria community advocate Christian Honl, who launched an early bid for the seat. The district was competitive before the switch. Javadi won it as a Republican in 2024 by 1,717 votes over Democrat Andy Davis, according to Right Now Oregon’s October 2025 coverage of the race.

Javadi also changed his public position on abortion after joining the Democratic Party. As a Republican, he had sponsored legislation that would have prohibited most abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions. In an April essay, he argued that the decision should rest with the pregnant woman and said conversations with Oregon women helped change his view. Right Now Oregon covered Javadi’s reversal in April.

The party switch reshaped the race’s financial backing. An October review of campaign filings by Right Now Oregon found that the Democratic Party of Oregon, the House Democrats’ campaign arm and labor groups provided about $836,000 in cash and in-kind support, roughly 76% of Javadi’s reported contributions. Sherman received nearly $984,000 from Bring Balance to Salem and Evergreen PAC. Bring Balance to Salem had given Javadi about $239,000 in cash and in-kind support when he ran as a Republican in 2024.