How to run in California, 2028
What it takes to get on California's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate or President, from the state's election office and laws.
U.S. House
Who can run
- At least 25 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
- Living in the state when elected (the Constitution doesn't require living in the district)
Getting on the California ballot
| Where to file | County elections official of the county where the candidate resides and is registered (or, if the candidate lives outside the district, the county elections official in the district). Nomination paper sections go to the county where the signers reside. The filing fee is payable to the Secretary of State and paid to the county elections official. |
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| When | Nomination documents available from E-113 and due by 5:00 p.m. on E-88 (Elec. Code 8020(b)). With the statewide direct primary on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March in presidential years (Elec. Code 1201), March 7, 2028, the expected period is November 15, 2027 through 5:00 p.m. December 10, 2027. If an incumbent does not file, the period for that office extends to E-83 (December 15, 2027). In-lieu-of-fee petitions may be circulated from E-165 to E-118 (expected September 24 - November 10, 2027, by the same E-day schedule the SOS used for 2026). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Obtain and execute the Declaration of Candidacy in person at the county elections office (or designate a third party in a signed written statement to pick up and return it), file nomination papers with the required signatures, and file a ballot designation worksheet if a ballot designation is requested. California uses a top-two primary for congressional offices: all candidates, including those with no party preference, file the same way and appear on one primary ballot; the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. Write-in candidates for the primary file a statement of write-in candidacy and 40-60 (House) nomination signatures between E-57 and E-14, with no filing fee. |
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| Fee | 1% of the first-year salary of the office (Elec. Code 8103(a)(2)); the SOS listed $1,740.00 for 2026. Paid when obtaining the Declaration of Candidacy. |
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| Petition instead | Nomination papers: 40 to 60 signatures of registered voters in the district (Elec. Code 8062(a)(2)). In lieu of the fee: a petition of registered voters in the district; Elec. Code 8106(a)(2) sets 2,000 signatures for the House, and the SOS 2026 summary listed a minimum of 1,714 valid signatures (each worth about $1.015 of the fee). Signatures can cover all or a prorated part of the fee and may also count toward the nomination-paper requirement. No separate independent route; candidates with no party preference use the same top-two process. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution
U.S. Senate
Who can run
- At least 30 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
- Living in the state when elected
Getting on the California ballot
| Where to file | County elections official of the county where the candidate resides and is registered (or, if the candidate lives outside the district, the county elections official in the district). Nomination paper sections go to the county where the signers reside. The filing fee is payable to the Secretary of State and paid to the county elections official. |
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| When | Nomination documents available from E-113 and due by 5:00 p.m. on E-88 (Elec. Code 8020(b)). With the statewide direct primary on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March in presidential years (Elec. Code 1201), March 7, 2028, the expected period is November 15, 2027 through 5:00 p.m. December 10, 2027. If an incumbent does not file, the period for that office extends to E-83 (December 15, 2027). In-lieu-of-fee petitions may be circulated from E-165 to E-118 (expected September 24 - November 10, 2027, by the same E-day schedule the SOS used for 2026). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Obtain and execute the Declaration of Candidacy in person at the county elections office (or designate a third party in a signed written statement to pick up and return it), file nomination papers with the required signatures, and file a ballot designation worksheet if a ballot designation is requested. California uses a top-two primary for congressional offices: all candidates, including those with no party preference, file the same way and appear on one primary ballot; the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. Write-in candidates for the primary file a statement of write-in candidacy and 40-60 (House) nomination signatures between E-57 and E-14, with no filing fee. |
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| Fee | 2% of the first-year salary of the office (Elec. Code 8103(a)(1)). Amount for 2028 not yet published. |
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| Petition instead | Nomination papers: 65 to 100 signatures of registered voters statewide (Elec. Code 8062(a)(1)). In lieu of the fee: a petition of 7,000 signatures of registered voters for statewide office (Elec. Code 8106(a)(3)); signatures can cover all or a prorated part of the fee. No separate independent route; candidates with no party preference use the same top-two process. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · California's 2028 Senate race
President
Who can run: At least 35 years old; A natural-born U.S. citizen; A U.S. resident for at least 14 years (U.S. Constitution).
Getting on California's presidential primary ballot
| How | Two routes for a party's presidential primary ballot. (1) Secretary of State list: a 'generally advocated for or recognized candidate' (one with an FEC-registered presidential committee who submits proof of at least one criterion: qualified for federal campaign funding; appeared in a national presidential debate hosted by a qualified party with at least two candidates; placed or qualified for a party's presidential primary or caucus ballot in at least one other state this cycle; or has a campaign website plus a written request from a California-qualified party) files a 'Proof of Generally Advocated for or Recognized Candidate' form, and the SOS announces the names for each qualified party's ballot (Elec. Code 6000.1, 6000.2, 6041-6043). A candidate may withdraw by affidavit. (2) Nomination papers: candidates not selected by the SOS may circulate petitions among voters registered with that party (Democratic: in each congressional district, the lesser of 1% or 500 of the party's registrants in that district; other qualified parties: 1% of the party's statewide registrants), based on the SOS 154-Day Report of Registration. |
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| Where | California Secretary of State, Elections Division, 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 (petitions are verified through county elections officials). |
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| When | 2028 primary: first Tuesday after the first Monday in March in presidential years (Elec. Code 1201), March 7, 2028. Using the 2024 guide's day counts: proof of recognized-candidate status due by E-98 (Tuesday, November 30, 2027); SOS announces names by E-88 (Friday, December 10, 2027); withdrawal deadline E-68 (Thursday, December 30, 2027); nomination-paper circulation period E-120 to E-81 (Monday, November 8 through Friday, December 17, 2027). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None stated for presidential primary candidates in the SOS guide. |
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| Petition | Only for candidates not placed by the SOS: Democratic Party, the lesser of 1% or 500 of party registrants in each congressional district; Republican, American Independent, Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom, 1% of the party's registrants (154-Day Report of Registration). |
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Sources: Section-02 nomination requirements
Running as an independent in November
| How | An independent presidential candidate reaches the ballot by qualifying a slate of 54 presidential electors and 54 alternates pledged to that candidate (Elec. Code 8303, 8304, 8550). The nomination paper may name the President and Vice-President candidates the electors pledge to support. It must be signed by registered voters equal to 1% of statewide registration in the last Report of Registration before the preceding November general election (Elec. Code 8400, 2187(c)(6)); papers are delivered to the county elections official where the signers are registered, verified there, and forwarded to the SOS. Each elector and alternate also files a Declaration of Candidacy (Independent Nomination) with their county. A presidential candidate who filed as a partisan candidate in the primary and lost the party nomination is ineligible (Elec. Code 8301). |
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| Where | County elections officials (nomination papers and elector declarations); forwarded to/filed with the Secretary of State, 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. |
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| When | Using the 2024 guide's day counts: circulate from E-193 (Friday, April 28, 2028) until 5:00 p.m. E-88 (Friday, August 11, 2028); elector and alternate declarations also due by 5:00 p.m. E-88 (Elec. Code 8403(a)(2), 8550). For 2024 the dates were April 26 - August 9, 2024. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | No filing fee required to file nomination papers. |
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| Petition | 1% of statewide registered voters, from the last Report of Registration before the November 2026 general election (2024 figure: 219,403). The 2028 number had not been published in a 2028 guide when checked. |
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| Also | The full elector slate (54 electors plus 54 alternates) is required. The Vice-President candidate may be named on the nomination paper with the President candidate (Elec. Code 8303). |
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Sources: President elector independent
Campaign money
- Once you raise or spend more than $5,000, file a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) within 15 days.
- Your campaign committee then files a Statement of Organization (FEC Form 1) within 10 days and reports to the FEC.
FEC: registering as a candidate · FEC campaign guides
Checked November 4, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with California's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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