How to run in New Jersey, 2028
What it takes to get on New Jersey's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House or President, from the state's election office and laws. New Jersey 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 New Jersey ballot
| Where to file | New Jersey Secretary of State, Division of Elections, 225 West State Street, Trenton (petitions for a congressional district are addressed to the Secretary of State, N.J.S.A. 19:23-6 and 19:13-3). The Division schedules petition filing appointments. |
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| When | Primary petitions due before 4:00 p.m. Monday, March 27, 2028 (the 71st day before the June 6, 2028 primary, the Tuesday after the first Monday in June; N.J.S.A. 19:23-14). Independent petitions for the general election due before 4:00 p.m. on primary day, Tuesday, June 6, 2028 (N.J.S.A. 19:13-9). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a nominating petition signed by party members in the district, with the candidate's signed acceptance certificate (stating the candidate is qualified, consents to stand and will accept the nomination) and an oath of allegiance taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths (N.J.S.A. 19:23-15). Petition circulators swear by affidavit that they saw all signatures made. Defective petitions may be amended until 4:00 p.m. three days after the deadline; objections are due four days after it. A House candidate who signed an acceptance for a party primary nomination may not also accept a direct (independent) petition for the same office. |
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| Fee | None. |
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| Petition instead | Party primary: at least 500 signatures of party voters in the congressional district (N.J.S.A. 19:23-8). Independent route: a direct nomination petition signed by voters in the district equal to 5% of the total vote for General Assembly at the last election for all Assembly members in the district, but no more than 250 signatures are required (N.J.S.A. 19:13-5); the petition may state a designation of up to three words. A person who unsuccessfully sought a party's nomination for the office in that year's primary cannot be nominated by direct petition for it (L. 1998, c. 147, s. 7, in N.J.S.A. chapter 19:13). |
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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 New Jersey's presidential primary ballot
| How | A candidate's name is printed on a party's presidential primary ballot when at least 1,000 voters of that party file a petition with the Secretary of State endorsing the candidate (N.J.S.A. 19:25-3). The petition follows the form and manner used for other primary petitions, with two exceptions: the presidential candidate may not have a designation or slogan after their name, and the candidate's consent does not need to be endorsed on the petition. Separately, candidates for national convention delegate may list the presidential candidate they favor as 'Choice for President' next to their names, but only with that candidate's written consent endorsed on their petitions (N.J.S.A. 19:24-5). |
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| Where | New Jersey Secretary of State, Division of Elections, Trenton. The Division asks filers to book a petition-filing appointment. |
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| When | 2028 dates computed from statute: the presidential petition is due on or before the 64th day before the primary, Monday, April 3, 2028 (N.J.S.A. 19:25-3). Primary: Tuesday, June 6, 2028 (Tuesday after the first Monday in June; N.J.S.A. 19:2-1). (Other primary petitions are due on the 71st day before under N.J.S.A. 19:23-14; the presidential rule is its own section.) (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None in statute. |
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| Petition | At least 1,000 voters of the candidate's political party (N.J.S.A. 19:25-3). |
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Sources: Gateway.dll (lis.njleg.state.nj.us) · Candidate information (nj.gov)
Running as an independent in November
| How | A candidate not nominated at a political party's convention gets on the ballot through a petition of direct nomination for presidential electors, filed with the Secretary of State together with the acceptances (N.J.S.A. 19:13-9). The petition gives the electors' names, residences and post-office addresses, and may include the names of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates the electors will vote for. It must not include candidates who were nominated at a party convention. It also states the party or principles represented, in no more than three words, and that designation may not use any part of the name of a party entitled to take part in the primary. Signers pledge to support the persons named and state that they have not signed another nominating petition for the office (N.J.S.A. 19:13-4). The Division of Elections publishes a 'Petition of Direct Nomination for the General Election for Electors for President & Vice President' form and instructions. |
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| Where | New Jersey Secretary of State, Division of Elections, Trenton. |
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| When | Computed from statute: due before 4:00 p.m. on the 99th day before the general election, Monday, July 31, 2028 (N.J.S.A. 19:13-9). The same rule gives the 2024 deadline of July 29, 2024. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None in statute. |
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| Petition | 2,000 signatures of legally qualified New Jersey voters statewide, for each candidate nominated in the petition (N.J.S.A. 19:13-5 as amended by P.L. 2025, c. 20, effective retroactive to January 1, 2025; it was 800 before). |
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| Also | The elector slate is what the petition nominates, so the electors (14 for New Jersey) are named at filing. The presidential and vice-presidential candidates' names 'may be included' (N.J.S.A. 19:13-4). P.L. 2025, c. 20 raised the statewide direct-nomination signature count from 800 to 2,000; check the Division's 2028 petition form for how it applies the count to an elector slate. |
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Sources: pub.njleg.gov · Gateway.dll (lis.njleg.state.nj.us) · Candidate information (nj.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 New Jersey's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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