How to run in Utah, 2028
What it takes to get on Utah'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 Utah ballot
| Where to file | Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office, the filing officer for U.S. Senate and U.S. House (Utah Code 20A-9-101(6)). |
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| When | Declaration of candidacy: 8:00 a.m. on the first business day in January through 5:00 p.m. on the fifth business day in January of the even-numbered year (Utah Code 20A-9-201.5), which is Monday, January 3 through Friday, January 7, 2028. The primary is the fourth Tuesday of June (20A-1-201.5), June 27, 2028. (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 Lieutenant Governor during the filing period and pay the filing fee; before accepting it, the filing officer reads the constitutional and statutory qualifications to the candidate (20A-9-201). A candidate out of state for the entire filing period may use a designated agent who appears in person while the candidate joins by live video. Qualified-party candidates may seek the nomination through the party convention, by gathering signatures, or both; a candidate gathering signatures must first file a notice of intent to gather signatures during the same filing period (20A-9-408). An affidavit of impecuniosity may be filed instead of the fee by a person unable to pay. |
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| Fee | $485 for U.S. House in 2026 (Lieutenant Governor's 2026 Notice of Election). The statute sets the fee at $50 plus 1/8 of 1% of the total salary for the full term of office (Utah Code 20A-9-201); at the current congressional salary that is $485 for the 2-year House term. |
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| Petition instead | Signature route for a qualified political party: 7,000 signatures of registered voters in the congressional district who are permitted to vote in the party's primary (20A-9-408(8)), submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the last business day at least 14 calendar days before the party's convention (20A-9-408(12)). Unaffiliated candidates: file a certificate of nomination and declaration of candidacy in person and pay the filing fee, with signature packets totaling at least 300 registered voters residing in the district or 5% of the district's registered voters, whichever is less (20A-9-502, 20A-9-503), between the start of the January filing period and 5:00 p.m. on June 15, 2028. |
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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 Utah ballot
| Where to file | Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office, the filing officer for U.S. Senate and U.S. House (Utah Code 20A-9-101(6)). |
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| When | Declaration of candidacy: 8:00 a.m. on the first business day in January through 5:00 p.m. on the fifth business day in January of the even-numbered year (Utah Code 20A-9-201.5), which is Monday, January 3 through Friday, January 7, 2028. The primary is the fourth Tuesday of June (20A-1-201.5), June 27, 2028. (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 Lieutenant Governor during the filing period and pay the filing fee; before accepting it, the filing officer reads the constitutional and statutory qualifications to the candidate (20A-9-201). A candidate out of state for the entire filing period may use a designated agent who appears in person while the candidate joins by live video. Qualified-party candidates may seek the nomination through the party convention, by gathering signatures, or both; a candidate gathering signatures must first file a notice of intent to gather signatures during the same filing period (20A-9-408). An affidavit of impecuniosity may be filed instead of the fee by a person unable to pay. |
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| Fee | Utah Code 20A-9-201 sets the fee at $50 plus 1/8 of 1% of the total salary for the full term of office; at the current congressional salary of $174,000 that works out to $1,355 for the 6-year Senate term (computed; the Lieutenant Governor publishes the official amount in the Notice of Election). |
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| Petition instead | Signature route for a qualified political party: 28,000 signatures of registered voters statewide who are permitted to vote in the party's primary (20A-9-408(8)), submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the last business day at least 14 calendar days before the party's convention (20A-9-408(12)). Unaffiliated candidates: file a certificate of nomination and declaration of candidacy in person and pay the filing fee, with signature packets totaling at least 1,000 registered voters residing in the state (20A-9-502, 20A-9-503), between the start of the January filing period and 5:00 p.m. on June 15, 2028. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Utah'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 Utah's presidential primary ballot
| How | Candidate filing. Utah holds a state-run presidential primary on the first Tuesday in March, open to registered political parties that certify to the lieutenant governor, by 5 p.m. on August 10 of the year before, that they will participate and who may vote in their primary (Utah Code 20A-9-802). A candidate affiliated with a participating party files a declaration of candidacy with the lieutenant governor, in person or through a designated agent (the agent may not sign the form), identifies the party whose nomination the candidate seeks, provides a letter from that party certifying that the candidate may take part in its presidential primary, and pays the filing fee (20A-9-803). The ballot contains only the names of qualified presidential candidates (20A-9-802(1)(c)). |
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| Where | Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office (Elections), Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City. |
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| When | Declaration of candidacy: between August 15, 2027 and 5 p.m. on December 1, 2027 (20A-9-803(1)(a)). Party participation certification: by 5 p.m. on August 10, 2027. Primary: first Tuesday in March, March 7, 2028 (20A-9-802(1)(a)). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | $500 (20A-9-803(1)(d)). |
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| Petition | None. Instead, the candidate must supply a party letter certifying that the candidate may run in that party's presidential primary. |
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Sources: Utah Code 20A-9-S803
Running as an independent in November
| How | Run as an unaffiliated candidate. File a certificate of nomination (notarized declaration of intention to be an unaffiliated candidate) with the lieutenant governor and pay the filing fee; a designated agent may file for a presidential candidate but may not sign the form (Utah Code 20A-9-503). Signature packets, in the statutory format (20A-9-502(1)), are submitted to the county clerk where most of the packet's signatures were collected, and clerks verify signatures within 30 days. The candidate may add signatures or amend filings until the deadline (20A-9-502(5)). The lieutenant governor posts an Unaffiliated Declaration of Candidacy for President, an Unaffiliated Declaration of Candidacy for Vice President (the running mate declares candidacy on a joint ticket with the named presidential candidate), and the Unaffiliated Candidate Petition (2024 versions). |
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| Where | Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office (filing); county clerks (signature packets). |
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| When | No earlier than the start of the declaration-of-candidacy period (8 a.m. on the first business day in January, January 3, 2028; 20A-9-201.5) and no later than 5 p.m. on June 15, 2028 (20A-9-502(5)(a), as amended in 2026). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | $500 (20A-9-503(4)). |
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| Petition | At least 1,000 registered Utah voters for a statewide office (20A-9-502(5)(a)(ii)(A)). Each signature must be verified as valid and must not appear on another candidate's certificate for the same office. |
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| Also | The vice-presidential running mate files a separate unaffiliated declaration naming the presidential candidate on the joint ticket (lieutenant governor's 2024 form). Electors are not due at filing: by 5 p.m. on the first business day at least 10 calendar days after filing the declaration of candidacy, the candidate certifies to the lieutenant governor the names and addresses of the presidential electors and of the people chosen to fill elector vacancies (20A-13-301(1)(c)). |
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Sources: Utah Code 20A-9-S502
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 Utah's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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