How to run in Mississippi, 2028
What it takes to get on Mississippi's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House or President, from the state's election office and laws. Mississippi 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)
Getting on the Mississippi ballot
| Where to file | Party candidates: the state executive committee of the political party. Independent candidates: Mississippi Secretary of State, Elections Division. Qualifying papers may be delivered in person or by mail (actual receipt by the deadline, not postmark); filing over the Internet is not allowed. |
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| When | Expected Wednesday, December 1, 2027 through 5:00 p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2027: Miss. Code 23-15-299(3) and 23-15-359(3) (as amended by 2025 HB 293) set the deadline at 75 days before the congressional preference primary, with nothing accepted before December 1 of the preceding year. In presidential years the congressional primary is held with the presidential preference primary (23-15-1031); the 2024 primary was the second Tuesday in March (March 12, 2024), so the 2028 primary is expected on March 14, 2028. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Party candidates file a Qualifying Statement of Intent for a Candidate for Party Nomination, certified under penalty of perjury that the candidate meets all legal requirements for the office, with the qualifying fee payable to the party's state executive committee. The committee (or, for independents, the Secretary of State) reviews qualifications and disqualifying felony convictions after the deadline. |
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| Fee | Set by each party within the range in Miss. Code 23-15-297 (parties must report changes by October 1 of the prior year). For 2026: Republican Party $2,500; all other parties $500, payable to the party's state executive committee. |
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| Petition instead | No petition alternative for party candidates. Independent route: Qualifying Statement of Intent for an Independent Candidate, a petition signed by at least 200 registered voters of the congressional district (signatures certified by the circuit clerk of each county where collected; header completed before signing), and a $500 qualifying fee payable to the Secretary of State, all due by the same deadline as party candidates. |
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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 Mississippi's presidential primary ballot
| How | Each candidate qualifies with their party for the Presidential Preference Primary. The candidate files a Statement of Intent for a Candidate for Party Nomination, a petition, and the qualifying fee with that party's State Executive Committee. The Secretary of State places a candidate on the ballot once they meet Miss. Code Ann. s. 23-15-1093. Every petition page must have its 'header' (candidate name, office and election date) filled in before any signatures are collected. The Circuit Clerk's office of each county where signatures were collected must certify them. |
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| Where | The respective party's State Executive Committee. Papers sent by mail must actually be received by the deadline; a postmark does not count. |
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| When | 2028 dates are not yet published. For 2024, qualifying ran from Tuesday, January 2 to 5:00 p.m. Monday, January 15, 2024, and the Presidential Preference Primary was Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Check the Secretary of State's 2028 Candidate Qualifying Guide when it is issued. |
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| Fee | Paid to the party's State Executive Committee. In 2024 it was $25,000 for Democratic or Republican candidates and $2,500 for other parties. Parties may set the fee within the range in Miss. Code Ann. s. 23-15-297, and any change must be submitted to the Secretary of State by October 1 of the year before it takes effect. |
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| Petition | At least 500 qualified electors (registered voters) statewide, or at least 100 from each congressional district. |
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Sources: 2024 Candidate Qualifying Guide · United states president (sos.ms.gov) · US President Party Qualifying Statement 2023 · President Candidate Presidential Pref. Primary Petition 2023
Running as an independent in November
| How | File four things with the Secretary of State: a Statement of Intent for an Independent Candidate, signed by both the presidential and the vice-presidential candidate; a petition addressed to the State Board of Election Commissioners; the qualifying fee; and a list of presidential electors (Miss. Code Ann. s. 23-15-785). Each elector must sign the consent statement agreeing to serve and to vote for the named candidates. |
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| Where | Mississippi Secretary of State, Elections Division, P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136. Papers sent by mail must actually be received by the deadline. |
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| When | 2028 dates are not yet published. For 2024, independent presidential qualifying ran from Tuesday, January 2 to 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2024 (the general election was November 5, 2024). Check the Secretary of State's 2028 Candidate Qualifying Guide when it is issued. |
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| Fee | $2,500, payable to the Secretary of State. |
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| Petition | At least 1,000 qualified electors (registered voters) of Mississippi. Every page must give the names of both candidates, the office and the election date before anyone signs. The Circuit Clerk's office in each county where signatures were collected must certify them before they are submitted. |
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| Also | The running mate is named on both the petition and the Statement of Intent. The six electors, with their addresses and signed consents, must be filed along with the petition. |
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Sources: United states president (sos.ms.gov) · 2024 Candidate Qualifying Guide · US President Independent Qualifying Statement 2023 · President Candidate Independent Candidate Petition 09 2019
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 Mississippi's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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