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How to run for office in California.

The short, plain-English version — what you can run for, how to get on the ballot, and the official California resources that are the final word. Then, when you're qualified, Motion51 gets your voters on a map and your volunteers knocking.

The short version

California uses a top-two primary for congressional and most state offices: every candidate appears on a single primary ballot regardless of party, and the two highest vote-getters — even if they share a party — advance to the November general election. Local offices (city, county, school, special district) and judicial seats run on their own rules and calendars.

Offices you can run for
Federal (U.S. House and Senate); statewide constitutional offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, and others); State Senate and State Assembly; county, city, school board, and special-district seats; and judicial offices.
How to get on the ballot
You get on the ballot by filing a Declaration of Candidacy with your county elections office (or with the Secretary of State for statewide office) during the official nomination period. Most offices charge a filing fee set as a percentage of the office's annual salary; you can reduce or waive that fee by collecting in-lieu-of-filing-fee signatures instead. Candidates for state office also file a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) and register a campaign committee before raising money.
Who runs candidate filing
California Secretary of State — Elections Division(916) 657-2166

This is a plain-language overview, not legal advice. Filing deadlines and fees change every election cycle and vary by office — the official California resources below are the final word. When in doubt, the elections authority is right and we're wrong.

Official California candidate resources

Start here for the exact deadlines, fees, forms, and signature counts for your office and cycle.

Once you're on the ballot, Motion51 runs your field game.

Get your district's voter file loaded, cut into walkable turf, and onto an app your volunteers use at the door. California is fully available — see how to get your voter file.

Get your California voter file →

Talk to us about your California race

Tell us what you're running for and we'll help you go from "qualified" to "knocking doors" — voter file loaded, turf cut, volunteers set up.

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