Filing for State Legislative Offices

State Senators represent one of 67 Minnesota Senate Districts in the upper chamber of the Minnesota state legislature. State Representatives represent one of 134 Minnesota Legislative Districts in the Minnesota House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Minnesota state legislature. State Representatives have two-year terms and are elected in even years. State Senators have four-year terms, but due to redistricting have one of the terms shortened to two-years, so they are on the ballot every year ending in a 0, 2, or 6 (i.e. 2020, 2022, 2026, 2030, etc).

Qualifications

Candidates for state legislative offices must:

• be eligible to vote in Minnesota
• have not filed for another office at the upcoming primary or general election
• be at least 21 years old upon assuming office
• have maintained residence in their district for at least 30 days before the general election
• be a resident of Minnesota for at least one year before the general election
• be a resident of their district for at least six months before the general election

How to File

Major political party candidates

Candidates of major political parties must submit the affidavit of candidacy and $100 filing fee from May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Candidates may file with the Secretary of State, or the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides.

• Major party candidates must have participated in that party's most recent precinct caucus or intend to vote for a majority of that party's candidates at the next general election (Minn. Stat. 204B.06, subd. 2)
• Instead of paying the filing fee, candidates may submit a Petition in Place of Filing Fee. The petition requires at least 500 signatures.

Non-major political party candidates

Candidates of minor political parties, other political parties, or independent candidates must submit the affidavit of candidacy and $100 filing fee from May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Candidates may file with the Secretary of State, or the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides.

• Most candidates use the Combined Nominating Petition and Petition in Place of Filing Fee. The petition requires at least 500 signatures. All signatures must be obtained during the filing period.
• Alternatively, candidates could submit the Nominating Petition and pay the $100 filing fee. The petition requires at least 500 signatures. All signatures must be obtained during the filing period.

Withdrawal

A candidate who has filed for office may remove their name from the ballot by filing an affidavit of withdrawal. Candidates may withdraw within the filing period, or by 5:00 p.m. within two days of the end of the filing period. The affidavit of withdrawal is filed with the same filing officer where the original affidavit of candidacy was filed.

Major party candidates may withdraw after this deadline in some cases for a catastrophic illness if:

• The candidate has been diagnosed with a catastrophic illness that will permanently and continuously incapacitate the candidate and prevent the candidate from performing the duties of the office; and
• The candidate or the candidate’s legal guardian files a certificate signed by at least 2 licensed physicians verifying that the illness meets the requirements. (Minn. Stat. 204B.13, subd. 1 (b))

Write-In Candidates

A write-in candidate for state legislative office must file a written request for their votes to be counted. This request must be filed with the Office of the Secretary of State not more than 84 days before the primary and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 19th day before the general election.