How to run in Ohio, 2028
What it takes to get on Ohio'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 Ohio ballot
| Where to file | County board of elections: for a congressional district within one county, that county's board; for a district in more than one county, the board of elections of the county containing the major portion of the district's population (ORC 3513.05). |
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| When | Declaration of candidacy and petition due no later than 4:00 p.m. on the 90th day before the primary (ORC 3513.05). In presidential years the primary is the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March (ORC 3501.01(E)), March 21, 2028, so the deadline is 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 22, 2027. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a declaration of candidacy with petition papers attached, all filed at the same time as one instrument, and pay the fees at filing (ORC 3513.05, 3513.10). Each petition paper may contain signatures from only one county. A person may not file for more than one federal, state, or county office at the same election. |
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| Fee | $85 ($50 filing fee plus $35 additional fee for a district office, including U.S. House; ORC 3513.10(A), (B)(1)). |
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| Petition instead | Party primary: at least 50 signatures of qualified electors who are members of the candidate's party; petitions showing more than three times the minimum (150) on their face are not accepted (ORC 3513.05). Independent candidates: statement of candidacy and nominating petition filed by 4:00 p.m. on the day before the primary (March 20, 2028), signed by qualified electors of the district equal to at least 1% of the vote for governor in the district at the most recent gubernatorial election (ORC 3513.257(C)). |
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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 Ohio ballot
| Where to file | Ohio Secretary of State, Columbus (statewide office; ORC 3513.05). |
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| When | No later than 4:00 p.m. on the 90th day before the March 21, 2028 primary (ORC 3513.05, 3501.01(E)): December 22, 2027. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | Declaration of candidacy with petition papers filed together as one instrument, fees paid at filing; each petition paper may contain signatures from only one county. |
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| Fee | $150 ($100 filing fee plus $50 additional fee for a statewide office; ORC 3513.10). |
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| Petition instead | Party primary: at least 1,000 signatures of qualified electors who are members of the candidate's party, and the SOS will not accept a petition showing more than 3,000 on its face (ORC 3513.05). Independent candidates: statement of candidacy and nominating petition with at least 5,000 (and not more than 15,000) qualified electors' signatures, filed with the Secretary of State by 4:00 p.m. on the day before the primary, March 20, 2028 (ORC 3513.257(A)). |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Ohio'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 Ohio's presidential primary ballot
| How | In Ohio's presidential primary, voters elect national convention delegates who are tied to presidential candidates (R.C. 3513.12). A presidential candidate reaches the ballot in one of two ways. (1) Petition route: candidates for at-large delegate or alternate file a Declaration of Candidacy and Petition (SOS Form 2-N) naming their first and second choices for president. Each named presidential candidate must give written consent (Forms 2-R and 2-S) (R.C. 3513.12, 3513.05). (2) Fundraising route: a presidential candidate who has raised at least $5,000 for the primary in each of 20 states from individuals files a declaration of candidacy directly with the Secretary of State. Only up to $250 per contributor counts toward each $5,000. The filing needs a reasonable accounting and a treasurer's certification, plus a list of district delegate and alternate candidates chosen under the state party's rules. No Ohio signatures are needed (R.C. 3513.121). The two major parties also have their own filing requirements in their written delegate selection rules. The presidential primary is on the third Tuesday after the first Monday in March (R.C. 3501.01(E)(2)): March 21, 2028. |
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| Where | Ohio Secretary of State, Elections Division, Columbus; (614) 466-2585. |
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| When | By 4:00 p.m. on the 90th day before the presidential primary (R.C. 3513.05, 3513.121): December 22, 2027. (In 2024 the deadline was December 20, 2023.) Party delegate selection plans may set earlier internal deadlines. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None. The SOS guide says there is no fee to file these forms with the Secretary of State. |
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| Petition | Petition route: at least 1,000 and no more than 3,000 signatures of qualified Ohio electors affiliated with the party. Affiliation means the elector most recently voted in that party's primary in the current year or the two prior calendar years (2021-2023 for the 2024 cycle), or voted in no other party's primary in those years. Each part-petition may hold signatures from only one county and must be circulated by one person (R.C. 3513.05, 3501.38; SOS 2024 Presidential Guide). The fundraising route (R.C. 3513.121) needs no signatures. |
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Sources: Section 3513.12 (codes.ohio.gov) · Section 3513.121 (codes.ohio.gov) · Section 3513.05 (codes.ohio.gov) · Section 3501.01 (codes.ohio.gov) · 2024 presidential guide
Running as an independent in November
| How | The presidential and vice-presidential candidates file jointly with the Secretary of State: one statement of candidacy and one Joint Nominating Petition (SOS Form 3-A) for the pair. The petition must carry the names and signatures of both candidates. A slate of presidential electors (17 for Ohio) must be submitted at the same time, or the petition is not accepted (R.C. 3513.257). The SOS guide notes that a candidate must actually be unaffiliated, with that claim made in good faith. On request, the ballot may show 'Nonparty candidates' or 'Other-party candidates'; otherwise no designation appears, and 'independent' may not be printed (R.C. 3505.03, 3513.257). |
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| Where | Ohio Secretary of State, Elections Division, Columbus. |
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| When | By 4:00 p.m. on the 90th day before the general election (R.C. 3513.257): August 9, 2028. (In 2024 the deadline was August 7, 2024.) (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None. The SOS guide says there is no fee to file with the Secretary of State. |
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| Petition | At least 5,000 and no more than 15,000 signatures of qualified Ohio electors, of any party affiliation (R.C. 3513.257(A)). |
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| Also | The running mate must be on the joint petition from the start, and the elector slate must be filed with it. |
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Sources: Section 3513.257 (codes.ohio.gov) · 2024 presidential guide
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 Ohio's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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