Running for Legislative Office
State Senator
State Representative
Online Candidate Filing
Through the Candidate Portal, federal, statewide, and legislative candidates can accomplish many of their filing needs in one website.
Candidate Committee
When running for legislative office, you should first determine whether or not you are required to register a candidate committee. Candidates for legislative 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 $1,100 in connection with that candidacy. Committees are created by filing a statement of organization using the Secretary of State’s online Campaign Finance System. The statement of organization must be filed within 10 days after meeting the monetary threshold.
Appearance on the Ballot
To run for legislative office, you will need to turn in your nomination petitions in addition to submitting the correct legislative nomination paper and a financial disclosure statement via the Candidate Portal.
The first day to file these forms with the Secretary of State’s Office is March 7, 2020 and the deadline is April 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Signature Requirements for Legislative Candidates
The Secretary of State's Office will update signature requirements after January 2, 2020 (A.R.S. § 16-322).
Updated March 20, 2018
| Republican | Democratic | Libertarian | Independent | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative District | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max | Min | Max |
| LD 1 | 592 | 3.550 | 365 | 2,190 | 240 | 1,439 | 1,395 | -- |
| LD 2 | 288 | 1,725 | 375 | 2,249 | 172 | 1,027 | 1,003 | -- |
| LD 3 | 210 | 1,256 | 356 | 2,133 | 139 | 834 | 801 | -- |
| LD 4 | 271 | 1,626 | 348 | 2,086 | 171 | 1,022 | 999 | -- |
| LD 5 | 529 | 3,174 | 354 | 2,120 | 245 | 1,468 | 1,440 | -- |
| LD 6 | 469 | 2,812 | 405 | 2,430 | 227 | 1,357 | 1,308 | -- |
| LD 7 | 307 | 1,840 | 510 | 3,056 | 182 | 1,087 | 1,064 | -- |
| LD 8 | 336 | 2,011 | 336 | 2,012 | 184 | 1,104 | 1,079 | -- |
| LD 9 | 363 | 2,173 | 407 | 2,439 | 183 | 1,097 | 1,056 | -- |
| LD 10 | 359 | 2,153 | 388 | 2,328 | 177 | 1,060 | 1,018 | -- |
| LD 11 | 494 | 2,960 | 410 | 2,457 | 235 | 1,405 | 1,367 | -- |
| LD 12 | 618 | 3,705 | 416 | 2,493 | 264 | 1,584 | 1,530 | -- |
| LD 13 | 474 | 2,839 | 363 | 2,177 | 224 | 1,340 | 1,307 | -- |
| LD 14 | 440 | 2,638 | 349 | 2,093 | 196 | 1,174 | 1,140 | -- |
| LD 15 | 536 | 3,213 | 400 | 2,395 | 246 | 1,475 | 1,427 | -- |
| LD 16 | 529 | 3,169 | 395 | 2,369 | 260 | 1,560 | 1,517 | -- |
| LD 17 | 508 | 3,048 | 433 | 2,597 | 252 | 1,512 | 1,466 | -- |
| LD 18 | 475 | 2,850 | 449 | 2,694 | 239 | 1,432 | 1,379 | -- |
| LD 19 | 236 | 1,411 | 348 | 2,083 | 169 | 1,014 | 991 | -- |
| LD 20 | 447 | 2,677 | 403 | 2,418 | 232 | 1,392 | 1,344 | -- |
| LD 21 | 472 | 2,828 | 405 | 2,430 | 235 | 1,409 | 1,375 | -- |
| LD 22 | 609 | 3,652 | 417 | 2,500 | 257 | 1,542 | 1,507 | -- |
| LD 23 | 648 | 3,888 | 456 | 2,734 | 284 | 1,700 | 1,656 | -- |
| LD 24 | 290 | 1,738 | 388 | 2,327 | 184 | 1,103 | 1,055 | -- |
| LD 25 | 534 | 3,199 | 379 | 2,273 | 236 | 1,412 | 1,364 | -- |
| LD 26 | 291 | 1,746 | 351 | 2,106 | 191 | 1,143 | 1,095 | -- |
| LD 27 | 220 | 1,319 | 375 | 2,248 | 163 | 975 | 950 | -- |
| LD 28 | 458 | 2,746 | 406 | 2,435 | 217 | 1,299 | 1,250 | -- |
| LD 29 | 225 | 1,350 | 317 | 1,898 | 158 | 948 | 921 | -- |
| LD 30 | 232 | 1,390 | 309 | 1,854 | 156 | 935 | 907 | -- |
How are these numbers calculated?
For candidates seeking to run for the nomination of a recognized political party, the minimum number of signatures required is found by calculating 1/2 of 1% of the total qualified signers in the district as of March 1, 2018. The maximum number of signatures required is found by calculating 3% of the total qualified signers in the district as of March 1, 2018. (A.R.S. § 16-322).
The minimum number of signatures required from a new party is calculated by totaling 1/10 of 1% of the total votes cast for the winning candidate for governor or president at the last general election within the district. (A.R.S. § 16-322).
For candidates seeking to run as an Independent, the minimum number of signatures required is found by calculating 3% of the total registered voters for that district who are not members of a political party that is qualified for representation as of March 1, 2018. (A.R.S. § 16-341).
Write-In Candidates
To run as a write-in candidate, you do not need to file nomination petitions. However, you will still need to submit the correct legislative write-in nomination paper and a financial disclosure statement via the Candidate Portal.
For write-in candidates who want to run in the Primary Election, the first day to file these forms with the Secretary of State’s Office is March 7, 2020 and the deadline is June 25, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
For write-in candidates who choose to forgo participating in the Primary Election and want to be an official write-in candidate at the General Election only, your first day to file these forms with the Secretary of State’s Office is July 17, 2020 and the deadline is September 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
