The Natural Law Party was organized in the United States in the spring of 1992, but its founders disbanded it in 2004. Nevertheless, it remains on the ballot in a few states. In California, it will be removed from the ballot in November 2006, since the law requires a party to poll 2% for at least one statewide nominee, and no one filed in its primary.

In Hawaii, the law is ambiguous. Since it was on the ballot for 3 elections in a row (1996-2000), it is entitled to be on automatically for another 5 elections, or through the 2010 election. However, it is possible Hawaii’s Elections Departments will still consider it disqualified since no one filed in its primary in 2004. The filing period for 2006 ends in July.

In Idaho and Michigan, it is possible that individuals who have not been associated with the party in the past will obtain the party’s nomination. In Idaho, a party remains on the ballot as long as it has at least 3 nominees for state or federal office. In Idaho, where the party nominates by primary, filing ends March 17. The Michigan deadline for a party to submit nominees (chosen by convention) is not until July.

The party is also qualified in Florida and Mississippi, states in which any party that submits a list of state party officers is considered qualified.

On March 12, Kate Michelman declared she will not run as an independent candidate for US Senate from Pennsylvania. She is former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. There had been speculation she would run, since the likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate this year will be Bob Casey, who believes that abortion should be banned.

On March 11, the national Democratic Party’s Rules Committee recommended an alteration in the party’s rules, concering the calendar for caucuses to choose a presidential nominee. Current rules do not permit any caucuses or primaries before the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. The new rule would permit two caucuses before New Hampshire’s primary (but still after Iowa’s caucus). The April meeting of the Democratic National Committee will hear presentations from state Democratic parties that wish to apply for the “early” slots. The Democratic National Committee will then make a final decision of whether to go ahead, and with which two states, in June.