WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Mitt Romney's rivals have been to poach on his home turf, but the newly-official presidential candidate wants to make clear he garners the most Bay State support.

"A broad coalition of 27 Massachusetts currently elected officials" have endorsed Romney's White House bid, according to a statement released Thursday.

Among Romney's home-state backers are 18 out of 19 Republican members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who all signed a letter touting their former governor as "a strong and innovative leader ready to take on a new generation of challenges."

Romney also enjoys support from two out of five GOP state senators, one out of two Republican mayors, three out of four Republican sheriffs, and three out of three GOP district attorneys.

"I am proud to have the support of so many Republican leaders in Massachusetts," Romney said in a statement. "For four years, we worked together to transform and innovate state government."

Romney's announcement comes on the heels the news that his predecessor, former Republican Gov. Jane Swift, is backing Arizona Sen. John McCain's White House bid.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, another contender for the GOP presidential nomination, announced the support of five high-profile Massachusetts Republicans earlier Monday. Former Massachusetts GOP Gov. Paul Cellucci also threw his support behind Giuliani in January.