2000 Natural Law National Convention

United States political event June 2026 2000 1996 Natural Law John S. Hagelin (cropped).jpg NatGoldhaber (cropped).jpg Nominees(Hagelin & Goldhaber) August 31–September 2, 2000 Alexandria, Virginia John Hagelin Iowa Nat Goldhaber California ~200 2000 Natural Law National Convention was held August 31–September 2, 2000, in Alexandria, Virginia. The presidential nominating convention occurred after Natural Law Party founder John Hagelin had received the backing of a splinter faction of the Reform Party at the 2000 Reform National Convention, and marked an formal alliance of forces between the Natural Law Party and that faction of the Reform Party. The 2000 Natural Law Convention and alliance with elements of the Reform Party was staged largely in hopes of bolstering their claim to the federal matching funds and ballot access that the Reform Party's 2000 nominees would be entitled to (with Hagelin and his running mate Nat Goldhaber claiming to be the properly-nominated Reform ticket). Background John Hagelin had run for president as the nominee of the Natural Law Party in the preceding two presidential elections. Both runs attracted relatively little attentions. However, Haglin's 2000 presidential candidacy attracted an increased amount of attention due to his pursuit of the Reform Party nomination. Many in the Reform Party who were opposed to the candidacy of Pat Buchanan for their nomination coalesced in support of Hagelin's candidacy.Hagelin Stokes 'Grass-Roots Brush Fire' in New Hybrid Party https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-aug-20-mn-7521-story.html Los Angeles Times August 2, 2026 August 20, 2000 On August 12, a rump Reform Party convention that splintered at the 2000 Reform National Convention nominated Hagelin for president, with Nat Goldhaber of California nominated to be his vice presidential running mate. This splinter faction and the other faction of the party that had instead nominated Buchanan remained at odds after the convention, and challenged each other with competing legal claims to the $12.6 in federal matching funds that the Reform Party was entitled to in the 2000 presidential election, as well as the state ballot access that the Reform Party was entitled to. Logistics The convention was held August 31–September 2, 2000, in Alexandria, Virginia.Natural Law Party Convention https://p2000.us/nlpconv/nlpconvmain.html p2000.us August 2, 2026 2000P2000 Calendar; Highlights on the Road to the White House https://p2000.us/cal2000.html p2000.us August 2, 2026 2000 It was held later than all of the other significant major and third party conventions: Green National Convention (June 24–25), Libertarian National Convention (June 30–July 3), Republican National Convention (July 31–August 3), Reform National Convention (August 10–13), and Democratic National Convention (August 14–17). The convention had approximately 200 delegates.Natural Law Party Links with Reform Party Faction https://www.deseret.com/2000/9/2/19526842/natural-law-party-links-with-reform-party-faction/ Deseret News The Associated Press August 2, 2026 en September 2, 2000 The convention was regarded to be a joint convention of the Natural Law Party and the Hagelin-aligned faction of the Reform Party,Ferullo Mike Natural Law, Reform Party members unite around Hagelin in 'coalition convention' - August 31, 2000 https://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/31/natural.law/ CNN August 2, 2026 August 31, 2000 which was dubbed the "Natural Law and Reform Party Coalition". The convention was viewed as a means of bolstering the Hagelin-aligned Reform Party factions bid to be recognized by the FEC as the rightful claimant to the Reform Party's federal matching funds. Among the participants in the convention was former Reform Party chairman Russ Verney. A formal alliance between the party and the faction was declared on September 1. It was further announced that Doug Friedline (former Jesse Ventura aide) had been hired as Hagelin's new campaign manager.Hagelin Announces Natural Law-Reform Party Alliance https://www.newspapers.com/image/1051489194 Princeton Daily Clarion The Associated Press Newspapers.com subscription August 2, 2026 44 September 1, 2000 The Associated Press estimated attendance at the convention at 400, with half of those being delegates. While not broadcast on major commercial networks, the convention was covered by C-SPAN.Democracy in Action P2000: Conventions https://p2000.us/chrnconv.html p2000.us August 3, 2026 2000 Nominations The convention nominated Hagelin for president and Goldhaber for vice president.Third Parties' Page https://www.thegreenpapers.com/Third/Third.html The Green Papers August 2, 2026 2000 The nominations were unanimously delivered, without a roll call vote.Richard Wingerhttp://ballot-access.org/2000/1001.html#17 "Natural Law Convention" Ballot Access News October 1, 2000, Volume 16, Number 7 June 18, 2002 live https://web.archive.org/web/20020618140231/http://ballot-access.org/2000/1001.html#17 June 18, 2002 Hagelin gave his acceptance speech to the convention on August 31,Photo: Natural Law and Reform Party Convention https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/0b0b5a52cba23147e4bcf47c0ba601a5/Natural-Law-and-Reform-Party-Convention/ UPI August 2, 2026 en August 31, 2000 before what the party advertised was a crowd of 500 supporters and delegates.News Flash: John Hagelin, Nat Goldhaber Win Natural Law Party-Reform Party Coalition Nomination https://www.natural-law.org/news/news_flash/2000_09_07.html natural-law.org August 2, 2026 Notable speakers Speakers at the convention included: John Hagelin, presidential nominee Nat Goldhaber, vice presidential nominee and silicon valley businessman Lenora Fulani, third-party political organizer and 1988 presidential nominee of the New Alliance Party Jim Mangia, co-founder of the Reform Party Doug Friedline, campaign manager John Eastman, Natural Law nominee for U.S. Senate in Ohio Sue Harris DeBauche,Natural Law/Reform Party Coalition Convention September 1, 2000 Video C-SPAN.org https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/natural-law-reform-party-coalition-convention/172391 C-Span August 3, 2026 en-us September 1, 2000 Reform nominee in the 1997 Virginia gubernatorial election Omer Rains, Democratic member of the California State Senate (1974-1982)Natural Law/Reform Party Coalition Convention Video C-SPAN.org https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/natural-law-reform-party-coalition-convention/101380 www.c-span.org en-us Platform The party's platform placed a focus on matters including campaign finance reform, abortion rights, and crime prevention.Natural Law Party's Presidential Candidate https://www.npr.org/2000/09/01/1081407/natural-law-partys-presidential-candidate NPR August 2, 2026 en September 1, 2000 Aftermath Hagelin was unsuccessful in challenging Buchanan's claim to the FEC matching funds. However, he was successful in denying Buchanan the Reform Party's ballot access in several states, including in Michigan.Rust Michael Third Parties Run With a Purpose https://www.uvm.edu/~dguber/POLS125/articles/rust.htm UVM.edu Insight on the News August 10, 2026 21 November 6, 2000 References Natural Law Party Natural Law National Convention Natural Law National Convention Category:Natural Law Party Natural Law National Convention Category:History of Alexandria, Virginia Category:Political events in Virginia