Voting & Elections
How to run for U.S. Congress
Running for Congress requires meeting constitutional eligibility requirements, filing with the FEC, and qualifying for the ballot in your state — each of which has its own process and deadlines.
FEC registration is federal. Ballot access requirements — petition signatures, filing fees, deadlines — are set by each state.
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026
What you will need
- ✓FEC Form 2 — Statement of Candidacy
- ✓FEC Form 1 — Statement of Organization (for your campaign committee)
- ✓State filing documents (declaration of candidacy, petition signatures, or filing fee — varies by state)
- ✓Government-issued ID (for state filing)
Steps
Confirm you meet the constitutional requirements
The U.S. Constitution sets minimum qualifications that cannot be waived.
- House: at least 25 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, resident of the state you represent
- Senate: at least 30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, resident of the state you represent
Register as a candidate with the FEC
Once you raise or spend more than $5,000 for your campaign, you are legally required to register with the Federal Election Commission within 15 days. File FEC Form 2 (Statement of Candidacy) and FEC Form 1 (Statement of Organization) for your campaign committee.
Tip: You should register early — FEC registration establishes your legal campaign structure and allows you to begin raising money officially.
Open a campaign bank account
Your campaign committee must have a dedicated bank account. All contributions must be deposited here and all expenditures made from it. Commingling campaign and personal funds is illegal.
Qualify for your state's primary ballot
Each state has its own process for getting on the primary ballot. Most require filing a declaration of candidacy with the state election office and paying a filing fee or submitting a petition with a required number of registered voter signatures.
Tip: Check your state's Secretary of State website for exact deadlines — they often fall 3–6 months before the primary.
Win your party's primary
In most states, you compete in a party primary to become the official nominee. Some states use conventions or caucuses. A few use ranked-choice or top-two primary systems.
File required FEC reports throughout the campaign
All federal campaigns must file regular financial reports with the FEC disclosing contributions received and expenditures made. Reports are filed quarterly, with additional pre-election and post-election filings.