Key facts
35
Minimum age to serve as president
Art. II, § 1, cl. 5
$5,000
Raised or spent before someone becomes a federal candidate
52 U.S.C. § 30101(2)
15 days
Time a new federal candidate has to name a campaign committee
FEC
Meet the qualifications
Every office has its own requirements. For federal offices, the ConstitutionThe highest law of a country or state. It sets up the government, divides its powers and protects rights, and the United States and each state have their own.Read more in the glossary sets them:
- US House: at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and living in the state when elected.
- US Senate: at least 30, a citizen for 9 years, and living in the state when elected.
- President: at least 35, a natural-born citizen, and a US resident for 14 years.
State and local offices follow state constitutions, state laws and city charters.
How does someone run for public office
5 steps
The candidate
Confirm the age, citizenship and residency rules for the office. For federal offices, the Constitution sets them.
Art. I, §§ 2–3; Art. II, § 1, cl. 5
The candidate and campaign committee
A federal candidate who raises or spends more than $5,000 must name a campaign committee within 15 days. The committee then files regular reports.
52 U.S.C. §§ 30101, 30104
The candidate and state election officials
Meet the state’s filing deadline and other ballot rules, such as petitions. Party candidates may also need to win a primary, caucus or convention.
State law
Voters
Win under the voting rules for that office, whether plurality, a majority with a runoff, or ranked choice.
State law
Election officials and the winner
Officials certify the result. Federal and state officials swear or affirm to support the Constitution before serving.
Art. VI, cl. 3
Get on the ballot
Each state sets its own ballot rules and filing deadlines. Party candidates usually qualify by filing papers and then winning a primary, CaucusA meeting of members of a political party. In some states, parties use caucuses to help choose presidential nominees, and each party’s members in the US House meet in a caucus or conference to pick their leaders.Read more in the glossary or convention. Independent and minor-party candidates often qualify by turning in petitions signed by voters. Some offices are nonpartisan, so candidates run without a party label. In some places, you can also run as a write-in candidate.
Follow the money rules
Under federal law, you become a candidate for Congress or president once you raise or spend more than $5,000. Within 15 days, you must name a principal campaign CommitteeA smaller group of legislators that studies bills and issues in one subject area. Committees can hold hearings, change bills and recommend them to the full chamber.Read more in the glossary with the Federal Election Commission. That committee then files regular reports on what it raises and spends. State and local races follow state campaign finance laws, which differ from state to state.
Win under the voting rules
The voting rules decide what counts as a win. Under plurality rules, the candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority. Some places require a majority and hold a runoff if no one gets one. Maine counts ballots for president by ranked choice, and the presidency itself is decided by the Electoral CollegeThe process the Constitution uses to elect the president and vice president. It has 538 electors, and a candidate needs a majority of the electors appointed to win: 270 when all 538 are appointed.Read more in the glossary.
Take office, within limits
After the count, election officials certify the result under state law. Each chamber of Congress is the final judge of its own members’ elections. Before serving, federal and state officials must swear or affirm to support the Constitution. Winning does not change what the office can do. Officials can be removed early by impeachment, by expulsion from a legislature or, where state law allows, by recall.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Questions people ask
Can anyone run for mayor?
Do I have to belong to a party to run?
Does winning an election make every campaign promise possible?
Sources
Checked November 4, 2026. Primary sources first, then official records, then nonpartisan research.
How these facts were checked: our promise. Every substantive fix is listed on the corrections page.
Keep going
Elections
What are primaries and caucuses?
Primaries and caucuses narrow the field before the general election. Learn how open, closed and top-two primaries differ, and how party caucuses work.
Power
How do campaign money and lobbying work?
Federal law limits and discloses campaign contributions, and paid lobbyists must register and report. Learn the main rules and where to find the records.
Offices
Which US government offices are elected?
Voters elect members of Congress, governors, legislators and many local officials, while other officials are appointed. See which offices are elected.