Oregon House Speaker and U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) received the Oregon Independent Party’s nomination on Thursday morning.

"We are supporting Jeff Merkley because he is the true `independent' in this race," said Linda Williams, state chair of the Independent Party.  "Gordon Smith is very dependent - dependent on the utilities, drug companies, and other corporations for the millions of dollars he is spending on ads denying his record as a Bush Administration rubber stamp.”

The Oregon Independent Party, which was founded in January 2007, has over 22,000 members, making it the third largest political party in Oregon.

"I am honored to accept the nomination from the Independent Party of Oregon," said Merkley. "I have been proud to fight alongside the Independent party to take on special interests to pass sweeping ethics reform, protect consumers, and end the gridlock in Oregon.”

According to Oregon election rules, Merkley can accept the nomination of more than one party, although he will appear only as a Democrat on the ballot.