How to run in Washington, 2028
What it takes to get on Washington's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate or President, from the state's election office and laws.
U.S. House
- 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)
| Where to file | Washington Secretary of State, Elections Division (RCW 29A.24.070); online through the Secretary of State's candidate filing portal (sos.wa.gov/elections/file-office), or by mail or in person at 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia. |
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| When | Declarations of candidacy are filed 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning the first Monday in May and ending the following Friday (RCW 29A.24.050), which is Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 5, 2028. Mailed declarations are accepted from the tenth business day before the filing period (RCW 29A.24.081), April 17, 2028, and must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on the last day. The top-two primary is the first Tuesday of August (RCW 29A.04.311), August 1, 2028. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
| How | File a Declaration of Candidacy online (credit card and email address required), by mail, or in person, with the filing fee or a filing-fee petition. Washington uses a top-two primary: every candidate files the same declaration and may state a party preference; there is no separate party-nomination or independent filing route. |
| Fee | 1% of the office's annual salary at the time of filing (RCW 29A.24.091). At the current congressional salary of $174,000 that is $1,740 (computed). Nonrefundable. |
| Petition instead | A candidate without sufficient assets or income may submit a filing-fee petition instead of the fee, with valid signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction numbering no fewer than the dollar amount of the fee (about 1,740), on paper petition sheets (not online); signatures and money may not be combined (RCW 29A.24.101; Secretary of State candidate guide). The same declaration applies to candidates who state no party preference. |
U.S. Senate
- At least 30 years old
- A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
- Living in the state when elected
| Where to file | Washington Secretary of State, Elections Division (RCW 29A.24.070); online through the Secretary of State's candidate filing portal (sos.wa.gov/elections/file-office), or by mail or in person at 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia. |
|---|---|
| When | Declarations of candidacy are filed 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. beginning the first Monday in May and ending the following Friday (RCW 29A.24.050), which is Monday, May 1 through Friday, May 5, 2028. Mailed declarations are accepted from the tenth business day before the filing period (RCW 29A.24.081), April 17, 2028, and must arrive by 5:00 p.m. on the last day. The top-two primary is the first Tuesday of August (RCW 29A.04.311), August 1, 2028. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
| How | File a Declaration of Candidacy online (credit card and email address required), by mail, or in person, with the filing fee or a filing-fee petition. Washington uses a top-two primary: every candidate files the same declaration and may state a party preference; there is no separate party-nomination or independent filing route. |
| Fee | 1% of the office's annual salary at the time of filing (RCW 29A.24.091). At the current congressional salary of $174,000 that is $1,740 (computed). Nonrefundable. |
| Petition instead | A candidate without sufficient assets or income may submit a filing-fee petition instead of the fee, with valid signatures of registered voters in the jurisdiction numbering no fewer than the dollar amount of the fee (about 1,740), on paper petition sheets (not online); signatures and money may not be combined (RCW 29A.24.101; Secretary of State candidate guide). The same declaration applies to candidates who state no party preference. |
President
Getting on Washington's presidential primary ballot
| How | The party chooses who appears on the ballot. Each major political party decides which candidates go on its presidential primary ballot, and the party chair submits their names to the Secretary of State; once submitted, the list cannot be changed (RCW 29A.56.031(1)). Only submitted candidates appear on the ballot, listed alphabetically (RCW 29A.56.040). A party chair may also ask for an "uncommitted" delegate option by the same deadline. A party may base delegate allocation in whole or in part on its own precinct caucuses and conventions (RCW 29A.56.050). There is no individual candidate filing with the state. |
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| Where | Washington Secretary of State, Elections Division, Olympia (submission by each party chair). |
| When | Party chairs must submit the candidate list no later than 63 days before the primary (RCW 29A.56.031): January 11, 2028, if the statutory date holds. The primary is the second Tuesday in March (RCW 29A.56.020(1)), March 14, 2028. The Secretary of State (by September 1, 2027) or a major party's state committee (by September 15, 2027) may propose an alternative date, which takes effect only if a two-thirds vote of a bipartisan committee approves it by October 1, 2027; the Secretary of State would then adjust the deadlines by rule. (expected: follows state law) |
| Fee | None. Placement is by party submission. |
| Petition | None. |
Running as an independent in November
| How | Nomination by convention. An independent presidential candidate holds one or more conventions of registered voters. Each convention must be attended by at least 100 registered voters, and signatures from multiple conventions may be combined (RCW 29A.56.610). At least 10 days before each convention, publish notice of its date, time and place, and the sponsor's mailing address, in a newspaper of general circulation in that county (RCW 29A.56.620). Then file a certificate of nomination with the Secretary of State. The certificate must be in writing; list each nominee's name, residence and office, with sworn consent from both the presidential and vice-presidential nominees; identify the independent candidate on whose behalf the convention was held; be verified by oath of the presiding officer and secretary; include proof of publication of the convention notice; and be accompanied by nominating petitions (RCW 29A.56.640). Petitions must identify the convention as named on the certificate, and no voter may sign more than one such petition for the office (RCW 29A.56.630). The Secretary of State canvasses the signatures; appeals go to Thurston County Superior Court within 5 days (RCW 29A.56.670). |
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| Where | Washington Secretary of State, Elections Division, Olympia. |
| When | Conventions may be held no earlier than the first Saturday in May and no later than the fourth Saturday in July: May 6 to July 22, 2028 (RCW 29A.56.610). The certificate of nomination and petitions are due no later than the first Friday of August, August 4, 2028 (RCW 29A.56.640(7)). The list of electors is due within 10 days after the convention adjourns (RCW 29A.56.660). To be certified for the ballot, the elector slate must be certified to the Secretary of State by the third Tuesday of August, August 15, 2028 (RCW 29A.56.360). (expected: follows state law) |
| Fee | None set in RCW 29A.56.600-.670. |
| Petition | Signatures and addresses of at least 1,000 registered Washington voters, which may be combined across conventions (RCW 29A.56.610, 29A.56.640(5)). |
| Also | Yes, the running mate must be named at filing: the certificate names the vice-presidential nominee, who must give sworn consent. The elector slate is not part of the certificate. The convention submits the list of electors (names and mailing addresses, verified by the presiding officer) within 10 days after adjournment, and the slate must be certified by the third Tuesday of August. Under the uniform faithful presidential electors act, an unaffiliated candidate submits an elector nominee and an alternate for each elector position (RCW 29A.56.082). The vice-presidential nominee may be substituted until 75 days before the general election (before August 24, 2028), by sworn certification with the substitute's written consent (RCW 29A.56.360). |
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.
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