How to run in Minnesota, 2028
What it takes to get on Minnesota's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House or President, from the state's election office and laws. Minnesota has no U.S. Senate seat up in 2028.
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)
- The affidavit of candidacy states that the candidate is an eligible Minnesota voter and has no other affidavit of candidacy on file for any office at the same primary or general election; the Secretary of State lists both as qualifications for this office (Minn. Stat. 204B.06, subd. 1). source
- A major-party candidate's affidavit states that the candidate participated in that party's most recent precinct caucus or intends to vote for a majority of that party's candidates at the next general election (Minn. Stat. 204B.06, subd. 2). source
Getting on the Minnesota ballot
| Where to file | Minnesota Secretary of State (federal-office affidavits and petitions are filed only with the Secretary of State, Minn. Stat. 204B.09, subd. 1(d)). |
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| When | Tuesday, May 16, 2028 through 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, 2028 (84 to 70 days before the August 8, 2028 state primary, the second Tuesday in August). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Submit an affidavit of candidacy, signed before a notary or other person authorized to administer oaths, by mail or by hand, with the filing fee or a petition in place of the fee. The affidavit lists a phone number, an email address (or attestation of none) and the candidate's residence address, and the candidate shows a driver's license or state ID with that address or another accepted proof of residence. Withdrawal is allowed until 5:00 p.m. two days after filing closes. |
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| Fee | $300 (Minn. Stat. 204B.11), not refundable. |
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| Petition instead | Major-party candidates may file a Petition in Place of Filing Fee with at least 1,000 signatures of people eligible to vote for the candidate. Independent / non-major-party route: during the same filing period, submit the affidavit with a nominating petition of at least 1,000 signatures (5% of those voting in the district at the last state general election, or 1,000, whichever is less), all gathered during the filing period; most use the combined Nominating Petition and Petition in Place of Filing Fee, or they may file the nominating petition and pay the $300 fee. A person may sign only one nominating petition per office. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution
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 Minnesota's presidential primary ballot
| How | Only major political parties may place candidates on the presidential nomination primary ballot. Each participating party decides which candidates appear on its ballot, and the party chair submits their names to the Secretary of State. Once the names are submitted they cannot be changed. Presidential candidates do not file an affidavit of candidacy or a petition. A party chair may also ask for an 'uncommitted' option and a write-in line (Minn. Stat. 207A.13). A party that does not take part in a national convention cannot take part in the primary (207A.11(d)). |
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| Where | Party chair submits to the Minnesota Secretary of State. |
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| When | Presidential Nomination Primary: March 7, 2028, as published by the Secretary of State. The party chairs' candidate lists are due 63 days before the primary (Minn. Stat. 207A.13, subd. 2), which works out to Tuesday, January 4, 2028. Names of write-in candidates to be counted are due by the seventh day before the primary. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None. Minnesota has no filing fee for presidential candidates. |
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| Petition | None. Candidates are named by the party. |
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Sources: Filing for us president and vice president (sos.mn.gov) · Minn. Stat. § 207A.11 · Minn. Stat. § 207A.13
Running as an independent in November
| How | Candidates of minor parties or other parties, and independent candidates, file a nominating petition for presidential electors. The petition must list the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, a political party or principle of up to three words, 10 presidential elector nominees and 10 alternate elector nominees. No part of a major party's name may be used, though the word 'independent' may be (Minn. Stat. 204B.07). Each elector nominee must also sign a pledge on the Secretary of State's Unaffiliated Candidate Pledge Form to vote for the named candidates. Each nominated presidential and vice-presidential candidate must also submit a signed, notarized affidavit of candidacy (Minn. Stat. 204B.07, subd. 2(c)). |
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| Where | Minnesota Secretary of State, Elections Division, St. Paul. |
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| When | Signatures may be collected starting May 16, 2028 (first day of the filing period). The petition is due by 5:00 p.m. on August 22, 2028 (77 days before the general election). Both dates are as published by the Secretary of State. |
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| Fee | None. |
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| Petition | 2,000 signatures of people eligible to vote in Minnesota (Minn. Stat. 204B.08, subd. 3: 1% of the last state general election turnout or 2,000, whichever is less). A person may sign only one nominating petition for the office. |
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| Also | The running mate and the full slate of 10 electors and 10 alternates must be on the petition itself, so they have to be chosen before signature gathering begins. A write-in presidential candidate must file a request naming a vice-presidential candidate and 1 to 10 electors between May 16 and October 31, 2028, or their votes are not counted. |
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Sources: Filing for us president and vice president (sos.mn.gov) · Minn. Stat. § 204B.07 · Minn. Stat. § 204B.08 · Minn. Stat. § 204B.09
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 Minnesota's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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