Candidates
Information regarding the requirements on how to run for federal, state, and legislative office in Arizona can be found here. The Running for Office Guide provides additional information.
Through the Candidate Portal, federal, statewide and legislative candidates can accomplish many of their filing needs. A statewide or legislative candidate seeking public funding may collect $5 qualifying contributions through the portal and file nearly all the documents necessary to receive public funding.
Candidates may also use the portal to create a public profile that complies with applicable terms of use. The public profile will appear on our website and may include contact information, a photo, social media handles, website links, and a brief biography.
Running for Office Handbook
How to Run for Office
Candidates interested in running for office in Arizona must follow certain Constitutional and statutory requirements. Please review our Running for Office Handbook for additional information.
Candidates running for federal, statewide, or legislative office should begin the process by creating a campaign profile in Candidate Portal.
Statements of Interest
Aspiring candidates for federal, statewide, and legislative office in 2024 must file a Statement of Interest with the Arizona Secretary of State before the candidate begins collecting petition signatures. A.R.S. § 16-311(H).
The names of individuals who have filed a Statement of Interest with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office for the 2024 election cycle are available at the links below. Individuals seeking the nomination of a recognized political party will appear on the "Partisan" list.
Individuals who are not running as a member of a recognized party will appear on the "Independent/Not Party Affiliated" list. Write-in candidates are not required to file a Statement of Interest.
For the list of candidates, please review the 2024 Candidates section.
Campaign Finance Reporting
When running for elected office, candidates should determine whether they are required to register a candidate committee. Candidates for legislative and statewide office must register a candidate committee with the Secretary of State if the candidate receives contributions or makes expenditures, in any combination, of at least $1,300 in connection with that candidacy. Committees are created by filing a Statement of Organization using the Secretary of State's online campaign finance system: BEACON. The Statement of Organization must be filed within 10 days after meeting the monetary threshold.
Candidates for federal office do not register a committee with the Secretary of State. Instead, federal candidates must file a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission.
Decennial Redistricting for 2022 Election Cycle
What is the Independent Redistricting Commission?
The Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is established in the Arizona Constitution and meets every ten years to review legislative and congressional district boundaries in light of the data reported in the United States Census. (Ariz. Const. Art. IV, § 1). The IRC is made up of five citizens, of which no more than two can be registered members of the same political party. The four partisan members are chosen by the respective party leaders of the Arizona State Senate and House of Representatives. These four members then choose an applicant with no party affiliation to serve as chair of the IRC. Learn more on their webiste at irc.az.gov.
What does "redistricting" mean?
Arizona's voters elect legislative and congressional candidates based on the district in which the voter resides. These districts are determined by the IRC and are reviewed every 10 years following the U.S. Census. Redistricting occurs when the IRC reviews current legislative and congressional district boundaries, assesses changes in population since the districts were last drawn, then redraws district lines to account for these population changes.
What does this mean if I want to run for office?
According to Arizona's Constitution, the commission must be established by February 28, 2021. Based on historic practice, our Office expects the districts will be finalized and approved by early 2022. Candidates should be aware that new districts will take effect immediately following their approval and will be utilized for the 2022 election cycle. Please see our Candidate Redistricting Guide for further information.
Election Dates
The following contains information regarding elections for federal, statewide, and legislative candidates. For local information, please contact your county recorder’s office.
Resources
- Running for Office Handbook (PDF)
- Candidate Filing
- Candidate Petition Request
- Candidate Redistricting Guide (PDF)
- EQual Guide (PDF)
- Campaign Finance Candidate Guide (PDF)
- Loyalty Oath of Office (PDF)
- Public Records Request (PDF)
- Qualifying Contributions – Using Stripe Guide (PDF)
- Financial Disclosure Statement Guide (PDF)
- Arizona Agency Handbook (PDF)
- Affidavit of Signature Withdrawal - Candidate Petition (PDF)
- Candidate Statement of Withdrawal Form (PDF)
- Optional Statement on Recall (doc)
- Petition Verification Guide
- Cybersecurity Tips for Candidates, Parties, and PACs (PDF)
Office of the Secretary of State
Elections Division
1700 W Washington St Fl 7
Phoenix AZ 85007-2808
