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Running for U.S. Congress and the presidency simultaneously

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Ballot access for major and minor party candidates
Ballot access for presidential candidates
Select a state below to learn more about ballot access requirements for candidates in that state.

Ballot access requirements for political parties in the United States
List of political parties in the United States
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Note: This article is not intended to serve as a guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot, a candidate for president of the United States must meet a variety of complex, state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. A presidential candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

In most states, a candidate for the presidency cannot simultaneously seek election or re-election to congressional office. However, 10 states – Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin– permit simultaneous bids for congressional office and the presidency. See the map and table below for further details.[1][2][3][4][5]

For more information on presidential ballot access requirements, see this article. For information on laws that bar candidates who sought, but failed, to secure the nomination of a political party from running as independents or as nominees for another party in the general election, click here.

State laws governing simultaneous congressional and presidential candidacies




States that permit simultaneous congressional and presidential candidacies
State Does the state permit simultaneous congressional and presidential candidacies
Alabama No
Alaska No
Arizona No
Arkansas No
California Unclear[6]
Colorado No
Connecticut No
Delaware No
Florida Yes
Georgia No
Hawaii Yes
Idaho No
Illinois No
Indiana No
Iowa No
Kansas No
Kentucky No
Louisiana No
Maine No
Maryland No
Massachusetts Yes
Michigan No
Minnesota No
Mississippi No
Missouri No
Montana No
Nebraska No
Nevada No
New Hampshire No
New Jersey Yes
New Mexico No
New York No
North Carolina No
North Dakota No
Ohio Yes
Oklahoma No
Oregon No
Pennsylvania No
Rhode Island No
South Carolina No
South Dakota No
Tennessee No
Texas Yes
Utah No
Vermont No
Virginia No
Washington No
Washington, D.C. No
West Virginia Yes
Wisconsin Yes
Wyoming No

See also

Footnotes