California candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for California state candidates file with California Secretary of State, Political Reform Division.
2 more deadlines follow in this cycle.
Electbase emails you before every deadline — 14, 7, and 2 days out — and stays current as the official schedule changes.
Get deadline remindersIncluded in every Electbase plan · See pricingThis page also covers California candidate-filing (ballot access) deadlines for 2027–2028 — the process of becoming a qualified candidate, distinct from the campaign-finance reporting below. Here's how to run for office in California: what to file, when, and with whom.
7 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a California state candidate files with California Secretary of State, Political Reform Division for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Jun 2, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual/Year-end | CA Semi-Annual Statement (Jul–Dec 2025) Semiannual statement covering through December 31, 2025; January 31 fell on a Saturday, so the deadline moved to Monday, February 2. Coverage begins the day after the last statement filed. |
— – Dec 31, 2025 | |
| Pre-election | CA 1st Pre-Election Statement (June primary) First pre-election statement, due 40 days before the June 2 primary; covers through 45 days before. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Apr 18, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | CA 2nd Pre-Election Statement (June primary) Second pre-election statement, due 12 days before the June 2 primary; covers through 17 days before. |
Apr 19, 2026 – May 16, 2026 | |
| Annual/Year-end | CA Semi-Annual Statement (Jan–Jun 2026) Semiannual statement covering through June 30, 2026 (unless the committee terminated first). |
May 17, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | CA 1st Pre-Election Statement (Nov general) First pre-election statement, due 40 days before the November 3 general; covers through 45 days before. |
Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 19, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | CA 2nd Pre-Election Statement (Nov general) Second pre-election statement, due 12 days before the November 3 general; covers through 17 days before. |
Sep 20, 2026 – Oct 17, 2026 | |
| Annual/Year-end | CA Semi-Annual Statement (Jul–Dec 2026) Semiannual statement covering through December 31, 2026; January 31, 2027 fell on a Sunday, so the deadline moved to Monday, February 1. |
Oct 18, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Full 2026 cycle (Form 460) for a state candidate who advanced through the June 2 top-two primary to the November general. The first semiannual's coverage begins the day after the last statement filed (Jan 1 if none), so its start is committee-dependent. Candidates raising/spending under $2,000 may use the Form 470 short form; $25,000 in activity makes a committee an e-filer. 24-hour ($1,000+, Form 497) and $5,000 reports are event-driven, not listed here. Non-e-filers also file paper copies with the elections official in the candidate's county of domicile.
California candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in California — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from California Secretary of State, Elections Division. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
Municipal
Municipal Offices (Mayor, City Council, etc.)
Not yet published. Municipal filing deadlines in California vary by city charter and local ordinance. General-law cities follow state statutory formulas (typically 83 days before election); home-rule/charter cities set their own deadlines by municipal charter.
Filing authority: Individual City/Town Municipal Clerk.
Next check: Apr 1, 2027.
California Elections Code, Division 10 - General Provisions for Elections · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for Municipal Offices (Mayor, City Council, etc.) in Statewide (Multiple Cities and Towns) for the 2027 California Municipal General Elections has not yet been published; check with Individual City/Town Municipal Clerk. Source: California Legislature.
School Board
School District Governing Board Members
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: Individual School District Office
California Elections Code, Chapter 4, School District Elections · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for School District Governing Board Members in Statewide (Independent School Districts) for the 2027 California School Board Elections is not yet a confirmed date (election not yet scheduled); check with Individual School District Office. Source: California Legislature.
2028
Federal
President of the United States
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Withdrawal deadline: Dec 14, 2027
Files with: California Secretary of State, Elections Division
Fee: Filing fee varies by party; $5,000 for most candidates or petition with signatures in lieu of fee · Signatures: Petition in lieu of filing fee requires signatures of registered voters (requirement varies by party and state law)
California Elections Code, Division 8, Nomination Requirements · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 California Presidential Primary Election (Mar 7, 2028) closes Dec 10, 2027 at 5:00 PM America/Los_Angeles. Opens Sep 8, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: California Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives — Districts 1-52
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Withdrawal deadline: Dec 14, 2027
Files with: California Secretary of State, Elections Division
Fee: $1,250 filing fee or petition in lieu of fee with required voter signatures · Signatures: If petitioning in lieu of fee: number of signatures required depends on election year and office; typically 1 percent of registered voters in the district
California Elections Code, Division 8, Part 1, Chapter 1 - Nomination Requirements · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 California Presidential Primary Election (Mar 7, 2028) closes Dec 10, 2027 at 5:00 PM America/Los_Angeles. Opens Sep 8, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: California Legislature.
Federal Offices (President, U.S. House) - Independent Candidacy
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Oct 24, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Oct 24, 2028
Files with: California Secretary of State, Elections Division
Signatures: Number of signatures required: 1 percent of registered voters in the district (or statewide for President)
California Elections Code, Division 8, Part 3 - Nomination by Petition · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Federal Offices (President, U.S. House) - Independent Candidacy in Statewide for the 2028 California General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Oct 24, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Los_Angeles. Opens Sep 7, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: California Legislature.
Federal Offices (President, U.S. House) - Write-In Candidacy
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Write In · Deadline type: Write-in filing
Write-in deadline: Oct 24, 2028
Files with: California Secretary of State, Elections Division
California Elections Code, Division 8, Part 3, Chapter 4 - Write-In Candidates · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Federal Offices (President, U.S. House) - Write-In Candidacy in Statewide for the 2028 California General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Oct 24, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/Los_Angeles. Opens Sep 11, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: California Legislature.
State Legislative
California State Senate — Districts 1-40
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Withdrawal deadline: Dec 14, 2027
Files with: California Secretary of State, Elections Division
Fee: $750 filing fee or petition in lieu of fee · Signatures: If petitioning in lieu of fee: approximately 1 percent of registered voters in the state senate district
California Elections Code, Division 8, Part 1, Chapter 1, Article 2 - Nomination Documents · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for California State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 California Presidential Primary Election (Mar 7, 2028) closes Dec 15, 2027 at 5:00 PM America/Los_Angeles. Opens Sep 8, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: California Legislature.
California State Assembly — Districts 1-80
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Withdrawal deadline: Dec 14, 2027
Files with: California Secretary of State, Elections Division
Fee: $500 filing fee or petition in lieu of fee · Signatures: If petitioning in lieu of fee: approximately 1 percent of registered voters in the assembly district
California Elections Code, Division 8, Part 1, Chapter 1, Article 2 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for California State Assembly in Statewide for the 2028 California Presidential Primary Election (Mar 7, 2028) closes Dec 15, 2027 at 5:00 PM America/Los_Angeles. Opens Sep 8, 2027. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: California Legislature.
Judicial
Appellate Court Justices (Retention Election)
Not yet published. Appellate retention elections occur in 2028 coinciding with the presidential election year. However, the specific filing deadline for justices' ballot statements has not been published by the California Secretary of State as of the research date.
Filing authority: California Secretary of State, Elections Division.
Next check: Jun 1, 2027.
California Appellate Court Retention Elections - Judicial Selection Overview · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for Appellate Court Justices (Retention Election) in Statewide for the 2028 California Presidential Primary Election (Mar 7, 2028) has not yet been published; check with California Secretary of State, Elections Division. Source: Judicial Branch of California.
Electbase compiles these dates from official state sources as a workflow aid. It is not legal advice. Confirm every deadline with your filing authority before you rely on it.
Last updated August 27, 2026