The short version
In Minnesota the most common way to run is to file an Affidavit of Candidacy and pay a filing fee during the two-week filing period; you can file a nominating petition instead of the fee. The state uses partisan primaries for partisan offices and direct filing for many nonpartisan local offices.
- Offices you can run for
- Federal (U.S. House and Senate); statewide offices (Governor and other state officials); the Minnesota Senate and House; county, city, township, and school-board offices; and (nonpartisan) judicial seats.
- How to get on the ballot
- File an Affidavit of Candidacy with the appropriate filing officer during the two-week filing period and pay the filing fee for the office — or, in lieu of the fee, file a nominating petition with the required signatures. The Secretary of State's Campaign Filing Packet contains the affidavit and related forms.
- Who runs candidate filing
- Minnesota Secretary of State — Elections Division651-215-1440
This is a plain-language overview, not legal advice. Filing deadlines and fees change every election cycle and vary by office — the official Minnesota resources below are the final word. When in doubt, the elections authority is right and we're wrong.
Official Minnesota 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. Minnesota is fully available — see how to get your voter file.
Talk to us about your Minnesota 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.