How to run in Oregon, 2028

What it takes to get on Oregon'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 Oregon ballot

Where to fileOregon Secretary of State, Elections Division (filing officer for U.S. Senator and Representative in Congress; ORS 249.035, 249.722).
WhenNot sooner than the 250th day and not later than the 70th day before the primary (ORS 249.037). The primary is the third Tuesday in May (ORS 254.056), May 16, 2028, so the window is September 9, 2027 through March 7, 2028. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet)
HowA major-party candidate files either a declaration of candidacy with the filing fee or a nominating petition (ORS 249.020, 249.056, 249.068). To receive a major party's nomination the candidate must have been a member of that party for at least 180 days before the filing deadline (ORS 249.046). A candidate who seeks and loses a major party's nomination may not then run for the same office as another party's or a nonaffiliated candidate (ORS 249.048).
Fee$100 for Representative in Congress, paid when the declaration of candidacy is filed (ORS 249.056).
Petition insteadInstead of the fee: a nominating petition signed by members of the candidate's major party in the district -- at least 1,000 signatures, or 2% of the party's vote for presidential electors in the district at the last presidential election, whichever is less (ORS 249.068(1)(a)). Candidates not seeking a major-party nomination: a certificate of nomination by individual electors signed by electors of the district equal to at least 1% of the total votes for presidential electors in the district at the most recent presidential election (ORS 249.740), or nomination by an assembly of electors (ORS 249.735) or a minor party; certificates are filed with the Secretary of State from the 15th day after the primary to the 70th day before the general election (ORS 249.722) -- May 31 to August 29, 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 Oregon ballot

Where to fileOregon Secretary of State, Elections Division (ORS 249.035, 249.722).
WhenSeptember 9, 2027 through March 7, 2028 (250th to 70th day before the May 16, 2028 primary; ORS 249.037, 254.056). (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet)
HowDeclaration of candidacy with fee, or nominating petition. A major-party candidate must have been a party member for at least 180 days before the filing deadline (ORS 249.046).
Fee$150 for U.S. Senator (ORS 249.056).
Petition insteadInstead of the fee: petition signed by members of the candidate's major party -- at least 1,000 signatures or 2% of the party's statewide vote for presidential electors at the last presidential election, whichever is less, including at least 100 electors registered in each congressional district (ORS 249.068(1)(a), (d)). Candidates not seeking a major-party nomination: certificate of nomination by individual electors with signatures equal to at least 1% of the statewide vote for presidential electors at the most recent presidential election (ORS 249.740), or by assembly of electors or minor party, filed May 31 to August 29, 2028 (ORS 249.722).

Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Oregon'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 Oregon's presidential primary ballot

HowA major-party presidential candidate's name is printed on the Oregon primary ballot in one of two ways (ORS 249.078). (a) By direction of the Secretary of State, who in the Secretary's sole discretion determines that the candidacy is generally advocated or is recognized in national news media. No filing by the candidate is needed. (b) By a nominating petition filed with the Secretary of State. Before circulating, the chief sponsor files a signed prospective petition and a statement on whether circulators will be paid. Signers must print their names. The primary is the third Tuesday in May (ORS 254.056): May 16, 2028.
WhereOregon Secretary of State, Elections Division, 255 Capitol St NE, Suite 126, Salem, OR 97310; 503-986-1518.
WhenORS 249.078 sets no separate deadline. Under the general rule for nominating petitions (ORS 249.037), filing runs from the 250th day to the 70th day before the primary: September 9, 2027 - March 7, 2028. Confirm with the Elections Division's 2028 calendar. (expected: follows state law)
FeeNone in ORS 249.078.
PetitionFrom each of Oregon's congressional districts, at least 1,000 signatures of electors registered in that district as members of the candidate's major party. Signatures are certified by county clerks or the Secretary of State (ORS 249.078(2), 249.008).

Sources: Ors249 (oregonlegislature.gov) · Ors254 (oregonlegislature.gov)

Running as an independent in November

HowA nonaffiliated candidate is nominated in one of two ways. (1) Individual electors: a certificate of nomination signed by voters (ORS 249.740). Before collecting signatures, the candidate files a prospective petition (SOS form SEL 114, 'prospective petition' option) declaring whether circulators are paid, and uses Elections Division signature-sheet templates. (2) Assembly of electors: a nominating convention of at least 1,000 Oregon electors, held in one place on one day, lasting no more than 12 hours (ORS 249.735). Notice of the assembly must be published in at least three newspapers at least 10 days before. The filing uses form SEL 115. Either way, the ballot shows the designation 'nonaffiliated'. The SOS manual says the candidate must have been registered as nonaffiliated for at least 180 days before the certificate deadline (the certificate must state this under ORS 249.720(1)(e)). For 2028 that date would be about March 2, 2028; confirm whether the Elections Division applies this to presidential candidates.
WhereOregon Secretary of State, Elections Division, Salem (minor-party and nonaffiliated general election filings must be on paper forms).
WhenA certificate of nomination is filed no sooner than the 15th day after the primary and no later than the 70th day before the general election (ORS 249.722): May 31 - August 29, 2028. Signatures may be collected before the filing period opens. (expected: follows state law)
FeeNone for nomination by individual electors or assembly.
PetitionIndividual electors: at least 1% of the total votes cast in Oregon for all presidential-elector candidates at the most recent presidential election (ORS 249.740(1)(a)). The SOS State Candidate Manual (rev. 11/2025) lists the current statewide figure as 22,445 signatures, based on the 2024 presidential vote. The 2024 vote stays the base for 2028. Assembly of electors: at least 1,000 electors present and recorded in the minutes.
AlsoORS 249.740(2) allows a certificate of nomination for presidential electors to name more than one candidate, so the certificate nominates the elector candidates. Oregon has 8 electors. Elector names are not printed on the ballot (ORS 248.360). The statutes read here do not spell out when the vice-presidential running mate must be named; confirm with the Elections Division's presidential filing forms.

Sources: Ors249 (oregonlegislature.gov) · Ors248 (oregonlegislature.gov) · Statecandidates

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 Oregon's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections