How to run in Wisconsin, 2028
What it takes to get on Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin ballot
| Where to file | Wisconsin Elections Commission (Wis. Stat. 8.15(8)(a)). |
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| When | Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than April 15 and filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the partisan primary (Wis. Stat. 8.15(1)), which is April 15 - June 1, 2028 (Thursday), for the partisan primary held the second Tuesday in August (5.02(12s)), August 8, 2028. If an incumbent does not file by then, others get 72 more hours. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File nomination papers with a declaration of candidacy sworn before an officer authorized to administer oaths (Wis. Stat. 8.15(4)(b), 8.21), stating that the candidate meets or will meet the applicable qualifications, by the June 1 deadline. All signers must reside in the district (or the state, for Senate) (8.15(3)). |
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| Fee | No filing fee in the statutes reviewed. |
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| Petition instead | Nomination papers signed by at least 1,000 and no more than 2,000 electors of the congressional district (Wis. Stat. 8.15(6)(b)). Independent candidates file nomination papers with the same signature range and the same April 15 - June 1, 2028 window (8.20(4), 8.20(8)(a)), plus a declaration of candidacy. |
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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 Wisconsin ballot
| Where to file | Wisconsin Elections Commission (Wis. Stat. 8.15(8)(a)). |
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| When | Nomination papers may be circulated no sooner than April 15 and filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the partisan primary (Wis. Stat. 8.15(1)), which is April 15 - June 1, 2028 (Thursday), for the partisan primary held the second Tuesday in August (5.02(12s)), August 8, 2028. If an incumbent does not file by then, others get 72 more hours. (expected: follows state law; the 2028 calendar isn't published yet) |
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| How | File nomination papers with a declaration of candidacy sworn before an officer authorized to administer oaths (Wis. Stat. 8.15(4)(b), 8.21), stating that the candidate meets or will meet the applicable qualifications, by the June 1 deadline. All signers must reside in the district (or the state, for Senate) (8.15(3)). |
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| Fee | No filing fee in the statutes reviewed. |
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| Petition instead | Nomination papers signed by at least 2,000 and no more than 4,000 electors of the state (Wis. Stat. 8.15(6)(a)). Independent candidates file nomination papers with the same signature range and the same April 15 - June 1, 2028 window (8.20(4), 8.20(8)(a)), plus a declaration of candidacy. |
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Official filing information · U.S. Constitution · Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin's presidential primary ballot
| How | A committee places names on the ballot, and other candidates can get on by petition. Step 1: the state chairperson of each recognized party whose candidate for governor received at least 10% of the vote at the last gubernatorial election may certify to the Wisconsin Elections Commission that the party will take part in the presidential preference primary (Wis. Stat. § 8.12(1)(a)). Step 2: a selection committee meets at the Capitol. For each participating party it includes the state chair (or designee) and one national committeeman and one national committeewoman; it also includes the Assembly speaker and minority leader and the Senate president and minority leader (or designees), plus a chairperson the members select. The committee must place on the ballot every candidate whose candidacy is "generally advocated or recognized in the national news media throughout the United States", may add others, and has sole discretion over that determination (§ 8.12(1)(b)). Step 3: a candidate the committee did not place, or a Wisconsin committee acting with the candidate's consent, may petition the Commission (§ 8.12(1)(c)). A candidate the committee nominates appears on the ballot unless they file a disclaimer stating that they are not and do not intend to become a candidate (§ 8.12(1)(d)). The ballot also offers an uninstructed-delegation option. |
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| Where | Wisconsin Elections Commission, Madison. |
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| When | Party participation certification: by 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday in December, December 14, 2027. Committee meets on the first Tuesday in January, January 4, 2028, and certifies names by the following Friday, January 7, 2028. Petitions may be circulated from January 4, 2028 and are due by 5 p.m. on the last Tuesday in January, January 25, 2028; the disclaimer deadline is the same. The preference vote is held at the spring election, the first Tuesday in April (§ 5.02(21)): April 4, 2028. (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None set in § 8.12. |
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| Petition | Only for candidates the committee did not place: 1,000 to 1,500 qualified electors in each congressional district, with every signer on a given paper living in the same district. The form must follow § 8.40 (§ 8.12(1)(c)). |
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Sources: Wis. Stat. § 8.12
Running as an independent in November
| How | File nomination papers with the Wisconsin Elections Commission (Wis. Stat. § 8.20(7)). The papers must name both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, the office each seeks, each one's residence and post-office address, and any party or principles represented in 5 words or fewer (§ 8.20(2)(c)). They must also list one presidential elector candidate from each congressional district and 2 at large (§ 8.20(2)(d)). Each paper needs a circulator certification. For presidential papers the circulator may be a qualified Wisconsin elector or a U.S. citizen 18 or older who would be eligible to vote if a Wisconsin resident (§ 8.20(3)). Each signer must print their name, municipality, street address and the date of signing. Papers must be accompanied by a declaration of candidacy under § 8.21 (§ 8.20(6)). Independent candidates appear in an "Independent" column or row. |
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| Where | Wisconsin Elections Commission, Madison. |
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| When | Circulation may begin July 1, 2028. Papers are due by 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in August, August 1, 2028 (§ 8.20(8)(am)). (expected: follows state law) |
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| Fee | None set in § 8.20. |
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| Petition | No fewer than 2,000 and no more than 4,000 electors (§ 8.20(4)). Only one signature per person for the same office is valid. |
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| Also | Yes. The vice-presidential running mate and the full elector slate (one per congressional district plus 2 at large) must appear on the nomination papers themselves, so both are fixed before circulation begins. |
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Sources: Wis. Stat. § 8.20
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 Wisconsin's election office and the FEC before you file. ← All states
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