How to run in Maryland, 2028
What it takes to get on Maryland'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 Maryland ballot
| Where to file | Maryland State Board of Elections (federal candidates file with the State Board), in person. |
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| When | Certificate of Candidacy due by 9:00 p.m. on the 95th day before the primary: 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 21, 2028, for the April 25, 2028 primary (fourth Tuesday in April in a presidential election year) (Election Law §§5-303(a)(2), 8-201(a)(2)(ii)). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a Certificate of Candidacy in person at the State Board of Elections and pay the filing fee at that time. Federal candidates do not file a state campaign-committee Statement of Organization or a state financial disclosure form (federal law and the FEC govern their committees). |
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| Fee | $100, paid by check, money order or credit card; waived if the candidate files a sworn statement of inability to pay on the State Board form and the board finds the candidate unable to pay (Election Law §5-401). |
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| Petition instead | No petition is required for principal party (primary) candidates. |
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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 Maryland ballot
| Where to file | Maryland State Board of Elections, in person. |
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| When | Certificate of Candidacy due by 9:00 p.m. on the 95th day before the primary: 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 21, 2028, for the April 25, 2028 primary (Election Law §§5-303(a)(2), 8-201(a)(2)(ii)). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a Certificate of Candidacy in person at the State Board of Elections and pay the filing fee at that time. No state Statement of Organization or state financial disclosure form is required for federal candidates. |
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| Fee | $290, paid by check, money order or credit card; waivable on a sworn showing of inability to pay (Election Law §5-401). |
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| Petition instead | No petition is required for principal party (primary) candidates. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Maryland'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 Maryland's presidential primary ballot
| How | Two routes (Election Law §8-502(b)). (1) Secretary of State placement: the Maryland Secretary of State certifies to the State Board of Elections each candidate whose candidacy, in the Secretary's sole discretion and consistent with party rules, is generally advocated or recognized in the news media throughout the United States or in Maryland, unless the candidate files an affidavit stating without qualification that they are not and do not intend to become a candidate in the Maryland primary (§8-502(c)). (2) Candidate petition filed in the form prescribed by the State Board (§8-502(d)). The State Board certifies qualifying names to local boards for printing on primary ballots; the Democratic primary ballot includes an option to vote uncommitted (§8-502(e)-(f)). The statewide primary in a presidential election year is held on the fourth Tuesday in April: April 25, 2028 (§8-201(a)(2)(ii)). |
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| Where | Secretary of State certification to the Maryland State Board of Elections; petitions filed with the State Board of Elections. |
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| When | Secretary of State certifies names no later than 113 days before the primary (January 3, 2028); petitions filed on the 95th day before the primary (January 21, 2028) (§8-502(c)-(d)). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None stated in §8-502. |
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| Petition | Signatures of at least 400 registered voters from each congressional district in the State (§8-502(b)). |
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Sources: Md. Code, Election Law § 8-502 · Md. Code, Election Law § 8-201
Running as an independent in November
| How | Nomination by petition under the general petition-candidate process (Election Law §5-703): file a Declaration of Intent in person with the appropriate election office, then file the petition, Certificate of Candidacy and other required documents; once all are filed, the Declaration of Intent becomes the Certificate of Candidacy (State Board of Elections candidacy page). A presidential candidate nominated by petition certifies the names and residential addresses of their presidential elector candidates to the State Board (§8-503(c)(2)). |
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| Where | Maryland State Board of Elections (the 'appropriate board' for a statewide office). |
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| When | Declaration of Intent by 5 p.m. on the first Monday in July (July 3, 2028); petition and Certificate of Candidacy by 5 p.m. on the first Monday in August (August 7, 2028) (§5-703(d), (f)). Electors certified to the State Board at least 30 days before the general election (by October 8, 2028) (§8-503(c)(3)). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | The State Board's candidacy page lists a filing fee among the August documents for petition candidates; the presidential amount was not stated on the pages read. |
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| Petition | The lesser of 10,000 registered voters or 1% of the total registered voters eligible to vote for the office, counted as of January 1 of the primary year (§5-703(e)(1)); the State Board's page states 10,000 signatures for an unaffiliated statewide candidate. |
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| Also | Electors are certified by the candidate separately, at least 30 days before the election, not at petition filing. The statutes read do not say when a vice-presidential running mate must be named; confirm with the State Board of Elections, whose 2028 candidacy guidance is not yet posted (its candidacy page shows 2026 dates). |
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Sources: Md. Code, Election Law § 5-703 · Md. Code, Election Law § 8-503 · Candidacy (elections.maryland.gov)
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 Maryland's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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