Back in July 2006, Oregon State Senator Avel Louise Gordly changed her registration from “Democratic” to “Unaffiliated.” Although this is not new news, BAN had not previously noted it or known it. She was last re-elected in 2004, so she has not yet tried to seek re-election as an independent candidate. She was the first African-American female State Senator in Oregon history when she was elected the first time in 1996.