December 14 at 5 pm is the deadline for Green presidential candidates, and for Republican presidential candidates, to file petitions to appear on the District of Columbia presidential primary. The Democratic deadline is in January 2008.

Greens likely to qualify for the Green D.C. presidential primary are Jared Ball, Howie Hawkins, Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift. There is a chance that Elaine Browne will also qualify. Each needs 48 signatures of registered Greens (the law requires signatures equal to 1% of a party’s registered voters).

Republicans likely to qualify are Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson. No other Republicans asked the Board of Elections for petition forms.