According to voter registration statistics released by the Secretary of State on Friday, the Independent Party of Oregon now has more than 12,500 members, becoming the 4th largest political party in Oregon. The growth of the party, which is just year old, is unprecedented for an Oregon-based minor political party. The Independent Party will almost certainly become Oregon's third largest party (and largest minor party) by the end of March 2008, if not sooner.

January '08 Minor party registration

Libertarians.......14,285
Independents.......12,597
Pacific Greens.....11,104
Constitution....... 2,967
Working Families... 1,588

The Independent Party remains the only political party to gain members in Oregon during the last 12 months.

January marks the first month in the last 12 months that voter registration has increased in Oregon.

During January, the Independent Party grew by 1,900 members, the largest single month gain in the brief history of the party. During the same time period, the number of Democrats grew by 8,000, the number of Republicans grew by 2,100, and the number of non-affiliated voters grew by 2,400.

Independent Party growth is spread fairly evenly among Oregon's 5 congressional districts, but is generally strongest in Southern and Eastern Oregon.