How to run in Missouri, 2028
What it takes to get on Missouri'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 Missouri ballot
| Where to file | Missouri Secretary of State, Elections Division, James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center, 600 West Main Street, Jefferson City. |
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| When | 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 29, 2028 through 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2028 (the last Tuesday in February through the last Tuesday in March before the August 8, 2028 primary). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a declaration of candidacy in person with the Secretary of State, sworn before the official accepting it, with proof of identity and a paid receipt from the political party for the filing fee. Active-duty military members and people unable to appear because of a physical disability may file by certified mail with a notarized declaration. Candidates who file by 5:00 p.m. on the first day draw random numbers for ballot order; later filers are listed in filing order. |
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| Fee | $300, paid to the treasurer of the political party's state committee (RSMo 115.357). |
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| Petition instead | A candidate unable to pay may file a sworn declaration of inability to pay with a petition signed by registered voters in the district equal to at least 1% of the total votes cast for the office at the last election for it. Independent route: a petition filed with the Secretary of State signed by registered voters in the district equal to at least 2% of the votes cast at the last election for the office, or 10,000, whichever is less (RSMo 115.321), with a sworn declaration of candidacy and proof of identity; circulators swear to each page before a notary. Petitions are accepted from 8:00 a.m. November 4, 2026 until 5:00 p.m. July 31, 2028 (the 15th Monday before the November 7, 2028 general election). No fee for independent or new-party 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 Missouri ballot
| Where to file | Missouri Secretary of State, Elections Division, James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center, 600 West Main Street, Jefferson City. |
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| When | 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 29, 2028 through 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2028 (the last Tuesday in February through the last Tuesday in March before the August 8, 2028 primary). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a declaration of candidacy in person with the Secretary of State, sworn before the official accepting it, with proof of identity and a paid receipt from the political party for the filing fee. Active-duty military members and people unable to appear because of a physical disability may file by certified mail with a notarized declaration. Candidates who file by 5:00 p.m. on the first day draw random numbers for ballot order; later filers are listed in filing order. |
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| Fee | $500, paid to the treasurer of the political party's state committee (RSMo 115.357). |
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| Petition instead | A candidate unable to pay may file a sworn declaration of inability to pay with a petition signed by registered voters statewide equal to at least one-half of 1% of the total votes cast for the office at the last election for it. Independent route: a petition filed with the Secretary of State signed by at least 10,000 registered Missouri voters (RSMo 115.321), with a sworn declaration of candidacy and proof of identity; circulators swear to each page before a notary. Petitions are accepted from 8:00 a.m. November 4, 2026 until 5:00 p.m. July 31, 2028 (the 15th Monday before the November 7, 2028 general election). No fee for independent or new-party candidates. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Missouri'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 Missouri's presidential primary ballot
| How | Missouri no longer holds a state-run presidential primary. The presidential primary sections of RSMo chapter 115 (115.755 to 115.785) were repealed in 2022 by H.B. 1878. Under RSMo 115.776, each established party's state organization (the one recognized by its national party) holds a series of caucuses, ending in congressional district and state conventions, to nominate its presidential candidate and choose national convention delegates under party rules. Candidates do not file with the state to get on a primary ballot; contact the party about its caucus process. |
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| Where | None with the state. The process is run by each party. |
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| When | Set by each party's rules. No state primary date. |
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| Fee | None with the state. |
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| Petition | None with the state. |
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Sources: RSMo § 115.776 · RSMo § 115.755 · RSMo § 115.399
Running as an independent in November
| How | Independent candidates for presidential elector are nominated with one petition. That petition must name a number of elector candidates equal to the state's electoral votes, including at least one qualified resident of each congressional district. Every page, or a sheet attached to every page, must state the intent to nominate an independent candidate, the office, the elector candidates' names and addresses, and the names of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The written consent of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates must accompany the petition and counts as part of it (RSMo 115.321). The Secretary of State's 2026 filing materials include an independent candidate petition form and a federal-office candidate declaration form. |
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| Where | Missouri Secretary of State, Elections Division, Jefferson City. |
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| When | Computed from statute: petitions are accepted from 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 4, 2026 (the day after the preceding general election) until 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 31, 2028 (fifteenth Monday before the November 7, 2028 general election; RSMo 115.329.1). The same rule gives the Secretary of State's published 2026 deadline of July 27, 2026. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None in statute. |
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| Petition | At least 10,000 registered voters of the state (RSMo 115.321.3). |
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| Also | The running mate and the full elector slate must be printed on the petition pages, so they have to be chosen before signatures are collected. Names of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates are not printed on the ballot without their written consent. |
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Sources: RSMo § 115.321 · RSMo § 115.329 · Candidates (sos.mo.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 Missouri's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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