At a press conference on the capitol steps this morning, Sen. Barack Obama’s team in Oregon announced the endorsements of 26 of Oregon’s elected officials, including Sens. Ben Westlund, Margaret Carter, and Avel Gordly, as well as House Speaker Pro Tem Diane Rosenbaum, and State Treasurer Randall Edwards.

Gordly, an independent who left the Democratic Party, said she will be re-registering in order to vote for Obama, although also said she could not promise that she would remain one after November.

"Barack Obama is a unifier," Gordly said.

“Having a strong candidate at the top of the ticket is critically important for those of us standing here. With a divisive candidate who can only campaign in certain states or districts, down ballot races like those in our state will suffer,” Senator Ben Westlund said.

Speaker Jeff Merkely--who has often slighted his opponent Steve Novick for criticizing Obama in the past--was also there, sporting an Obama pin on his lapel.

The list of officials who officially joined the Obama team today is below. 

Congressman Earl Blumenauer
State Treasurer Randall Edwards
Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo
Senate President Pro Tem Margaret Carter
Sen. Alan Bates
Sen.Floyd Prozanski
Sen. Ben Westlund
House Speaker Pro Tem Diane Rosenbaum
Rep. Jeff Barker
Rep. Phil Barnhart
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
Rep. Peter Buckley
Rep. Ben Cannon
Rep. Brian Clem
Rep. Chris Edwards
Rep. Dave Edwards
Rep. Larry Galizio
Rep. Paul Holvey
Rep. Betty Kimp
Rep. Tina Kotek
Rep. Mary Nolan
Rep. Tobias Read
Rep. Mike Schaufler
Rep. Chip Shields
Rep. Brad Witt