How to run in Kansas, 2028
What it takes to get on Kansas'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 Kansas ballot
| Where to file | Kansas Secretary of State. A candidate is not considered filed until the petition or declaration and fee is received by the Secretary of State (K.S.A. 25-208). |
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| When | Democratic and Republican primary candidates: by 12:00 noon June 1 before the primary (next business day if June 1 falls on a weekend or holiday): noon Thursday, June 1, 2028, for the August 1, 2028 primary (first Tuesday in August) (K.S.A. 25-205). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Either file nomination petitions, or file a declaration of intention to become a candidate (form prescribed by the Secretary of State, attested before the Secretary of State or a county election officer or deputy) with the filing fee (K.S.A. 25-205, 25-206). Libertarian and United Kansas candidates do not run in the primary; they are nominated by party convention or caucus, with certificates due by the same June 1 deadline (K.S.A. 25-302, 25-305(a)). |
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| Fee | 1% of one year's salary of the office plus a $20 administrative (PDC/SOS) fee; for 2026 this was $1,740 + $20 = $1,760 (K.S.A. 25-206). |
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| Petition instead | In lieu of the fee: nomination petitions signed by party members equal to at least 2% of the party's current voter registration in the congressional district (K.S.A. 25-205(e)(2)), with a circulator or candidate verification on each petition. Petition filers also pay the $20 PDC/SOS fee. |
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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 Kansas ballot
| Where to file | Kansas Secretary of State (K.S.A. 25-208). |
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| When | Democratic and Republican primary candidates: by 12:00 noon June 1 before the primary (next business day if a weekend or holiday): noon Thursday, June 1, 2028, for the August 1, 2028 primary (K.S.A. 25-205). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Either file nomination petitions, or file a declaration of intention to become a candidate (attested before the Secretary of State or a county election officer or deputy) with the filing fee (K.S.A. 25-205, 25-206). Libertarian and United Kansas candidates are nominated by party convention or caucus. |
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| Fee | 1% of one year's salary of the office plus a $20 administrative (PDC/SOS) fee; for 2026 this was $1,740 + $20 = $1,760 (K.S.A. 25-206). |
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| Petition instead | In lieu of the fee: nomination petitions signed by party members equal to at least 1% of the party's current statewide voter registration (K.S.A. 25-205(e)(1)). Petition filers also pay the $20 PDC/SOS fee. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Kansas'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 Kansas's presidential primary ballot
| How | Kansas law requires each recognized political party to have its own procedures to select a presidential nominee (K.S.A. 25-4501a(a)). A state-run presidential preference primary is held only when the Legislature sets one: the current statute sets a primary only for March 19, 2024, so no 2028 presidential primary date is set in law as of this check. When a presidential preference primary is held, a candidate's name is printed on the party's ballot only if the candidate has registered with the Federal Election Commission and files with the Secretary of State either a declaration of intent with a fee or a petition signed by party members (K.S.A. 25-4502(b)); voters may also choose 'none of the names shown' (an uncommitted delegation). Delegates to national conventions are selected under party rules (K.S.A. 25-4507). |
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| Where | Kansas Secretary of State (if a presidential preference primary is held); otherwise each party's own nominating procedure. |
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| When | If a primary is set: not later than 12:00 noon on the date 60 days before the presidential preference primary (next business day if that falls on a weekend or holiday) (K.S.A. 25-4502(b)). No 2028 primary date is currently set by statute. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | $10,000 with a declaration of intent, if not filing by petition (K.S.A. 25-4502(b)(1)). |
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| Petition | Alternative to the fee: petition signed by not less than 5,000 registered electors affiliated with the candidate's party, in the form prescribed by K.S.A. 25-205 (K.S.A. 25-4502(b)(2)). |
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Sources: K.S.A. 25-451 · K.S.A. 25-452 · K.S.A. 25-457
Running as an independent in November
| How | File independent nomination petitions with the Secretary of State. A person who has declared and retains a party affiliation is not eligible to accept an independent nomination (K.S.A. 25-303(b)). All signers on each separate petition must reside in the same county; a circulator or candidate verification must be appended to each petition. The Secretary of State determines validity within 20 days of receipt (K.S.A. 25-303). A person who has already filed as a party candidate or accepted a party nomination may not switch to an independent candidacy unless they first decline or withdraw before the K.S.A. 25-205 filing deadline (K.S.A. 25-306). |
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| Where | Kansas Secretary of State. |
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| When | No later than 12:00 noon on the Monday preceding the August primary: noon Monday, July 31, 2028 (the primary is the first Tuesday in August, August 1, 2028) (K.S.A. 25-305(b)). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None stated in the statutes. |
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| Petition | Not less than 5,000 qualified voters for an office filled by the voters of the state at large (K.S.A. 25-303(c)). |
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| Also | The statutes read here do not specify when an independent presidential candidate must name a vice-presidential running mate or presidential electors; confirm with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's candidate information page currently covers only 2026 offices. |
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Sources: K.S.A. 25-33 · K.S.A. 25-35 · K.S.A. 25-36
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 Kansas's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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