Filing requirements for congressional candidates

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Select a state below to learn more about ballot access requirements for candidates in that state.
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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 congressional candidate must meet a variety of filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether and how a candidate can appear on an election ballot. Because these laws are adopted and enforced at the state level, filing requirements vary from state to state. In general, there are three methods by which an individual can become a congressional candidate:

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article provides general information about federal and state requirements for congressional candidates. Filling deadlines for 2018 are also provided.

Requirements to run for congressional office

Federal requirements

Although specific filing processes are set by the states, the United States Constitution does establish the following qualifications for congressional candidates:

“

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

”

Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the only agency authorized to regulate the financing of federal election campaigns, including campaigns for the United States House of Representatives). The states cannot impose additional requirements on federal candidates. Federal law requires all candidates to file a statement of candidacy within 15 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures that exceed $5,000. The statement of candidacy is the only federally mandated ballot access requirement for congressional candidates; all other ballot access procedures are mandated at the state level. The candidacy statement authorizes "a principal campaign committee to raise and spend funds" on behalf of the candidate. Within 10 days of filing the candidacy statement, the committee must file a statement of organization with the FEC.

State requirements

See also: Ballot access for major and minor party candidates

In order to have his or her name printed on an election ballot, a congressional candidate must generally do one or both of the following: collect and file petition signatures or pay registration fees. Requirements vary from state to state and according to the type of candidate (e.g., major party candidate, minor party candidate, independent candidate, etc.). To learn more about specific ballot access requirements, select a state from the map below.

Click your state Learn more about congressional ballot access in your area.

Choose your state...AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

http://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_access_requirements_for_political_candidates_in_STATE

Filing deadlines

2019

See below for candidate filing deadlines by state for 2020. States are listed in alphabetical order.

Alabama
November 8, 2019

Alaska
June 1, 2020

Arizona
April 6, 2020

Arkansas
November 11, 2019

California
December 6, 2019

Colorado
March 17, 2020

Connecticut
June 9, 2020

Delaware
July 14, 2020

Florida
April 24, 2020

Georgia
March 6, 2020

Hawaii
June 2, 2020

Idaho
March 13, 2020

Illinois
December 2, 2019

Indiana
February 7, 2020

Iowa
March 13, 2020

Kansas
June 1, 2020

Kentucky
January 28, 2020

Louisiana
July 17, 2020

Maine
March 16, 2020

Maryland
February 5, 2020

Massachusetts
May 5, 2020
June 2, 2020

Michigan
April 21, 2020

Minnesota
June 2, 2020

Mississippi
January 10, 2020

Missouri
March 31, 2020

Montana
March 9, 2020

Nebraska
March 1, 2020

Nevada
March 13, 2020

New Hampshire
June 12, 2020

New Jersey
March 30, 2020

New Mexico
March 10, 2020

New York
April 2, 2020

North Carolina
December 20, 2019

North Dakota
April 6, 2020

Ohio
December 18, 2019

Oklahoma
April 10, 2020

Oregon
March 10, 2020

Pennsylvania
February 18, 2020

Rhode Island
June 24, 2020

South Carolina
March 30, 2020

South Dakota
March 31, 2020

Tennessee
April 2, 2020

Texas
December 9, 2019

Utah
March 19, 2020

Vermont
May 28, 2020

Virginia
March 26, 2020

Washington
May 15, 2020

West Virginia
January 25, 2020

Wisconsin
June 1, 2020

Wyoming
May 29, 2020

2018

See below for candidate filing deadlines by state for 2018. States are listed in alphabetical order.

Alabama
February 9, 2018

Alaska
June 1, 2018

Arizona
May 30, 2018

Arkansas
March 1, 2018

California
March 9, 2018

Colorado
March 20, 2018

Connecticut
June 12, 2018

Delaware
July 10, 2018

Florida
May 4, 2018

Georgia
March 9, 2018

Hawaii
June 5, 2018

Idaho
March 9, 2018

Illinois
December 4, 2017

Indiana
February 9, 2018

Iowa
March 16, 2018

Kansas
June 1, 2018

Kentucky
January 30, 2018

Louisiana
July 20, 2018

Maine
March 15, 2018

Maryland
February 27, 2018

Massachusetts
June 5, 2018

Michigan
April 24, 2018

Minnesota
June 5, 2018

Mississippi
March 1, 2018

Missouri
March 27, 2018

Montana
March 12, 2018

Nebraska
March 1, 2018

Nevada
March 16, 2018

New Hampshire
June 15, 2018

New Jersey
April 2, 2018

New Mexico
March 13, 2018

New York
April 12, 2018

North Carolina
February 28, 2018

North Dakota
April 9, 2018

Ohio
February 7, 2018

Oklahoma
April 13, 2018

Oregon
March 6, 2018

Pennsylvania
March 20, 2018

Rhode Island
June 27, 2018

South Carolina
March 30, 2018

South Dakota
March 27, 2018

Tennessee
April 5, 2018

Texas
December 11, 2017

Utah
March 15, 2018

Vermont
May 31, 2018

Virginia
March 29, 2018

Washington
May 18, 2018

West Virginia
January 27, 2018

Wisconsin
June 1, 2018

Wyoming
June 1, 2018

See also

• Signature requirements and deadlines for 2016 U.S. Congress elections
• Signature requirements and deadlines for 2014 U.S. Congress elections
• Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 U.S. Congress elections
• Signatures needed for independent candidates to qualify for United States House of Representatives elections, 2014
• Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 state government elections

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