How to run in West Virginia, 2028
What it takes to get on West Virginia's 2028 ballot for the U.S. House or President, from the state's election office and laws. West Virginia has no U.S. Senate seat up in 2028.
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 West Virginia ballot
| Where to file | West Virginia Secretary of State, for offices filled by voters of more than one county (W. Va. Code 3-5-7(b)(1)). |
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| When | Certificate of announcement filed not earlier than the second Monday in January and not later than the last Saturday in January before the primary, received before midnight or postmarked by USPS before then (W. Va. Code 3-5-7(c)), which is Monday, January 10 through Saturday, January 29, 2028, for the primary held the second Tuesday in May (3-5-1), May 9, 2028. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File a certificate of announcement on the Secretary of State's form (C-1), with a sworn statement before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths (3-5-7(d)), in person or by mail, and pay the filing fee at the time of filing; no certificate is received until the fee is paid (3-5-8). A candidate registered in a different party during the 60 days before filing may be refused certification on a timely complaint (3-5-7(e)). |
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| Fee | 1% of the office's annual salary (W. Va. Code 3-5-8(a)(1)); at the current congressional salary of $174,000 that is $1,740 (computed). |
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| Petition instead | A candidate who files an oath of impecuniosity may file an in-lieu-of-filing-fee petition instead, with 4 signatures of qualified voters for each whole dollar of the fee (about 6,960), filed by the end of the filing period (3-5-8a). Independent and other non-primary candidates: a nomination certificate signed by registered voters numbering at least 1% of the entire vote cast at the last general election for the office in the district (minimum 25), filed by August 1, 2028, with the same filing fee (3-5-23, 3-5-24). |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution
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 West Virginia's presidential primary ballot
| How | Candidate filing. In presidential election years, each party's primary ballot lists the candidates seeking that party's presidential nomination who have filed a certificate of announcement with the Secretary of State and paid the filing fee, or filed a petition in lieu of the fee (W. Va. Code §3-5-3). The certificate of announcement is a sworn, notarized statement on the Secretary of State's form, including the candidate's party and a statement that the candidate is registered with and affiliated with that party and has not been registered with another party in the previous 60 days (§3-5-7(d)). The Secretary of State electronically verifies party affiliation before accepting the filing. National convention delegate candidates file separately and list their presidential preference or "uncommitted"; where party rules allow, a presidential candidate may file a list of approved or rejected delegate candidates (§3-5-7(d)(7), (g)). |
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| Where | West Virginia Secretary of State, Charleston (§3-5-7(b)(1)). |
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| When | Not earlier than the second Monday in January and not later than the last Saturday in January before the primary: January 10 to January 29, 2028. The filing must be received before midnight Eastern, or postmarked before then if mailed; the Secretary of State's office is open 9:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the final day (§3-5-7(c)). Primary: second Tuesday in May (§3-5-1), May 9, 2028. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | 1% of the office's annual salary, capped at $2,500 for President or Vice President (§3-5-8(a)(1)); at the $400,000 presidential salary the fee is $2,500. It is paid when the certificate of announcement is filed. |
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| Petition | Only as an alternative to the fee, for a candidate who files an oath of inability to pay: 4 qualified voters for each whole dollar of the fee (10,000 signatures at the $2,500 cap), using separate forms per county, filed by the end of the filing period (§3-5-8a). |
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Sources: W. Va. Code § 3-5-3
Running as an independent in November
| How | Nomination certificate (petition). Groups of citizens without a party organization may nominate a candidate who is not already a candidate in the primary by filing a nomination certificate (W. Va. Code §3-5-23). Anyone soliciting signatures must first get credentials from the county clerk and show them to each voter approached. The certificate gives each candidate's name and residence, may designate a party name of up to five words and an emblem, and uses the Secretary of State's prescribed form, with a separate petition form for each county. A voter may sign the certificate and still vote in the primary. A person registered with a recognized political party at filing cannot use this process, and neither can a candidate who sought and lost that party's nomination for the same office (§3-5-23(f), (g)). The filing fee under §3-5-8 must be paid at filing (§3-5-24(c)). |
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| Where | West Virginia Secretary of State, Charleston (§3-5-24(b)(1)). |
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| When | Not later than August 1, 2028 (§3-5-24(a)). A certificate that is filed late, or without the fee paid, may not be received. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | The §3-5-8 filing fee, which is $2,500 for President (§3-5-24(c)). |
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| Petition | At least 1% of the entire vote cast at the last preceding general election for the office, and never fewer than 25 (§3-5-23(c)). For 2028 that is based on the 2024 presidential vote in West Virginia. Only registered voters of the county where the certificate was presented count, and signatures on in-lieu-of-fee petitions do not count toward this total. |
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| Also | §§3-5-23 and 3-5-24 do not expressly mention a vice-presidential running mate or an elector slate. The certificate must list "each of the candidates" nominated, and the general-election ballot pairs the presidential and vice-presidential candidates on one vote for electors (§3-6-2(d)(1)). The Secretary of State's prescribed form controls the details, and no current Secretary of State page for independent presidential candidates was found to confirm them. |
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Sources: W. Va. Code § 3-5-23
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 West Virginia's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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