The 2004 presidential campaign of Michael Badnarik, software engineer and candidate for the Texas legislature in 2000 and 2002, began on February 17, 2003, three months after starting an exploratory committee on November 17, 2002.

He spent over a year traveling the country, totaling over 25,000 miles prior to the 2004 Libertarian National Convention.

He also supported the right to bear arms of the individual, along with opposing the renewal of the defense weapons ban.

[15] Badnarik and Green Party candidate David Cobb were arrested[16][17] in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 8, 2004, for an act of civil disobedience.

They were arrested after crossing a police barricade in an attempt to serve an Order to Show Cause to the Commission on Presidential Debates.