How to run in North Dakota, 2028
What it takes to get on North Dakota'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 North Dakota ballot
| Where to file | North Dakota Secretary of State, Elections Division, 600 E Boulevard Ave, Dept 108, Bismarck (soselect@nd.gov). The Statement of Interests is filed online at vote.nd.gov. |
|---|
| When | Petitions may not be circulated or signed before January 1 of the election year (NDCC 16.1-11-15), and the filing must be in the Secretary of State's possession before 4:00 p.m. on the 64th day before the primary (NDCC 16.1-11-06). The primary is the second Tuesday in June (NDCC 16.1-11-01), June 13, 2028, so the deadline is 4:00 p.m. Central on Monday, April 10, 2028. (In 2026 the SOS accepted filings from January 2.) (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
|---|
| How | A complete filing is (1) either a Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704) or a party Certificate of Endorsement (SFN 17196) signed by the state party chair; (2) a notarized Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703); and (3) a Statement of Interests, or the personal financial disclosure statement filed with the House or Senate for congressional candidates. Petition, endorsement and affidavit may be filed in person, by mail, or by email to soselect@nd.gov. |
|---|
| Fee | None. |
|---|
| Petition instead | Party primary by petition: signatures equal to 3% of the total vote cast for the party's candidates for the same office at the last general election, but no more than 300 (at least 300 if the party had no candidate last time) (NDCC 16.1-11-06). Alternative: a certificate of endorsement from a recognized party. Independent candidates for the general election: Petition/Certificate of Nomination with at least 1,000 signatures of qualified North Dakota electors (the House seat is statewide, NDCC 16.1-12-02), plus the affidavit and Statement of Interests, filed before 4:00 p.m. on the 64th day before the general election -- computed as September 4, 2028, which is Labor Day (check whether the SOS moves it). Independent petitions may not be signed more than 150 days before that deadline (NDCC 16.1-12-02.3), i.e. from about April 7, 2028. |
|---|
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 North Dakota ballot
| Where to file | North Dakota Secretary of State, Elections Division, Bismarck (soselect@nd.gov); Statement of Interests online at vote.nd.gov. |
|---|
| When | Circulation from January 1, 2028; filing due before 4:00 p.m. Central on April 10, 2028, the 64th day before the June 13, 2028 primary (NDCC 16.1-11-01, 16.1-11-06, 16.1-11-15). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
|---|
| How | Petition/Certificate of Nomination (SFN 2704) or party Certificate of Endorsement (SFN 17196), plus notarized Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 2703) and Statement of Interests (or the federal personal financial disclosure). Filed in person, by mail, or by email. |
|---|
| Fee | None. |
|---|
| Petition instead | Party primary by petition: 3% of the party's vote for the office at the last general election, capped at 300 (300 if no party candidate last time) (NDCC 16.1-11-06), or a party certificate of endorsement. Independent: at least 1,000 signatures of qualified electors (NDCC 16.1-12-02), filed before 4:00 p.m. on the 64th day before the general election (computed September 4, 2028, Labor Day), signatures no earlier than 150 days before that deadline. |
|---|
Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · North Dakota'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 North Dakota's presidential primary ballot
| How | North Dakota holds no state-run presidential primary. The presidential preference contest statutes (NDCC 16.1-11-02 through 16.1-11-04) were repealed in 2003. The Secretary of State's guide says an established party can hold a presidential caucus or use another selection process recognized by its national party, and that 'the timeline and process is decided by the individual political party and is not covered under the North Dakota Century Code.' No state filing, fee or petition applies. Contact the party for its 2028 process. |
|---|
| Where | None with the state. Selection is run by each party (the SOS guide lists the North Dakota Republican Party, Bismarck, and the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, Bismarck). |
|---|
| When | Set by each party; not set by state law. |
|---|
| Fee | None under state law. |
|---|
| Petition | None under state law. |
|---|
Sources: T16-1c11 · Running president
Running as an independent in November
| How | File a Petition/Certificate of Nomination with the Secretary of State (NDCC 16.1-12-02(3)). An independent uses the same form and deadline as a candidate of a party not established in North Dakota, with the designation checked as 'independent candidate'. A complete filing includes: Petition/Certificate of Nomination for Political Party Not Established in North Dakota (SFN 58578); Certificate of Nomination - Presidential Electors/National Form (SFN 50905); an Affidavit of Candidacy (SFN 52500) for each of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates; and a Statement of Interests (SFN 10172) or the FEC personal disclosure statement. Filing by emailed PDF to soselect@nd.gov is encouraged. |
|---|
| Where | North Dakota Secretary of State, Elections Unit, 600 E Boulevard Ave Dept 108, Bismarck ND 58505-0500; soselect@nd.gov; (701) 328-4146. |
|---|
| When | Signatures may be gathered starting January 1, 2028. The petition must be in the Secretary of State's possession before 4:00 p.m. on the 64th day before the general election (NDCC 16.1-12-02, 16.1-12-04). For November 7, 2028 that is Monday, September 4, 2028, which is Labor Day. In 2024 the 64th day also fell on Labor Day, and the SOS guide set the deadline for the next day (September 3, 2024). By that precedent, expect Tuesday, September 5, 2028. Confirm with the SOS 2028 calendar. (expected: follows state law) |
|---|
| Fee | None stated in statute or the SOS guide. |
|---|
| Petition | At least 4,000 signatures of qualified North Dakota electors (NDCC 16.1-12-02(3)). Circulators do not need to be North Dakota electors. |
|---|
| Also | The petition must name both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, plus the elector and alternate elector nominees, all qualified North Dakota electors (NDCC 16.1-12-02(3)). The ballot may show a designation of up to five words naming the candidate's organization or party, within statutory limits. |
|---|
Sources: T16-1c12 · Running president · Federal (sos.nd.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 North Dakota's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections