Kansas holds presidential caucuses, instead of primaries. However, presidential candidates who wish to be considered for a Kansas caucus must file with the state party.

The Republican Kansas caucus filing deadline was January 9, and Duncan Hunter did not file. Republicans who did file are Giuliani, Huckabee, Keyes, McCain, Paul, Romney, and Thompson.

Democrats have until January 21 to file for the Kansas Democratic caucus. Those who have done so already are Clinton, Edwards, Obama and Richardson.

On January 4, six Republicans, and six Democrats turned in petitions to be on the Ohio presidential primaries. The Republicans are Giuliani, Huckabee, McCain, Paul, Romney and Thompson. The Democrats are Biden, Clinton, Edwards, Kucinich, Obama, and Richardson. UPDATE: Biden has withdrawn his Ohio petition.

Although Richardson has publicly withdrawn, he has not filed a withdrawal with the Ohio Secretary of State. Candidates needed 1,000 signatures to be listed themselves, and additional petitions of 50 signatures per U.S. House district to have delegates. All these petitions are being checked now.

On January 16, the California State Court of Appeals ruled unconstitutional a state law that makes it illegal for people to circulate a city initiative or referendum, unless that circulator lives in that particular city. Preserve Shorecliff Homeowners v City of San Clemente, G038649. The vote was 3-0.

The decision says that a contrary decision from 1994 which upheld the law, Browne v Russell, is no longer good law, given the 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a Colorado law that said circulators must be registered voters. That decision was Buckley v American Constitutional Law Foundation. Thanks to Fred Woocher (the attorney who won this case) for this news.