Maine candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for Maine state candidates file with Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.
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 Maine 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 Maine: what to file, when, and with whom.
7 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a Maine state candidate files with Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Jun 9, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual/Year-end | ME 2026 January Semiannual Semiannual report covering through December 31, 2025 (only if over $500 raised). |
— – Dec 31, 2025 | |
| Pre-election | ME 42-Day Pre-Primary Report 42 days before the June 9 primary. |
Jan 1, 2026 – Apr 21, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | ME 11-Day Pre-Primary Report 11 days before the primary. |
Apr 22, 2026 – May 26, 2026 | |
| Post-election | ME 42-Day Post-Primary Report 42 days after the primary. |
May 27, 2026 – Jul 14, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | ME 42-Day Pre-General Report 42 days before the November 3 general. |
Jul 15, 2026 – Sep 15, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | ME 11-Day Pre-General Report 11 days before the general. |
Sep 16, 2026 – Oct 20, 2026 | |
| Post-election | ME 42-Day Post-General Report 42 days after the general. |
Oct 21, 2026 – Dec 8, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Standard schedule for a TRADITIONALLY FINANCED state legislative or county candidate. GUBERNATORIAL candidates file additional semiannual reports and 24-hour (not 48-hour) reports. Maine Clean Election (MCEA) participants file a Seed Money / certification track instead of the 42-day pre-primary report. The January semiannual is required only for candidates who raised over $500 by December 31, 2025. Event-driven 48-hour reports (threshold varies by office) apply during the 13 days before each election.
Maine candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in Maine — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from Maine Secretary of State. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2027
Municipal
Municipal Officers (Mayor, Aldermen, Selectmen, etc.)
Not yet published. Municipal filing deadlines are set locally by each municipality's officers in relation to the municipality's annual election date. Nomination papers must be available for 40 days before the filing deadline. Specific deadlines vary by municipality and are not yet published.
Filing authority: Municipal Clerk (varies by municipality).
Next check: Feb 1, 2027.
Maine Revised Statutes Title 30-A, Chapter 121 - Meetings and Elections; Title 21-A Application to Municipal Elections · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for Municipal Officers (Mayor, Aldermen, Selectmen, etc.) in All Maine Municipalities for the 2027 Municipal General Elections has not yet been published; check with Municipal Clerk (varies by municipality). Source: Maine Legislature.
School Board
Regional School Unit Board Director
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Files with: Regional School Unit Secretary / Municipal Registrar
Signatures: 25 to 50 registered voters (or 20% of registered voters in municipalities with fewer than 200 voters)
Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A, Section 1473 - Election; Title 21-A Application to School Elections · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The filing deadline for Regional School Unit Board Director in Regional School Units (RSU) for the 2027 School Board Elections is not yet a confirmed date (awaiting local confirmation); check with Regional School Unit Secretary / Municipal Registrar. Source: Maine Legislature.
2028
Federal
President of the United States
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 2,000 to 3,000 registered voters
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapter 3, Presidential Primary Elections · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Maine Presidential Primary Election closes Dec 21, 2027 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Maine Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 1,000 to 1,250 registered voters enrolled in the party or permitted by the party
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Section 335 - Petition Requirements (Primary) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Maine State Primary Election closes Mar 15, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Maine Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party certification
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapters 5 and 9 - Ballot Preparation · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
The filing deadline for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Maine General Election (Nov 7, 2028) is not yet a confirmed date (official); check with Maine Secretary of State. Source: Maine Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: May 25, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Jun 1, 2028
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 2,000 to 2,500 registered voters (for U.S. House)
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Section 354 - Petition Requirements (General Election) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Maine General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jun 1, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Maine Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Write In · Deadline type: Write-in filing
Write-in deadline: Aug 29, 2028
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Section 722-A - Determination of Declared Write-in Candidate · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Maine General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Aug 29, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Maine Legislature.
State Legislative
Maine State Senate
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 100 to 150 registered voters enrolled in the party
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Section 335 - Petition Requirements (Primary) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Maine State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Maine State Primary Election closes Mar 15, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Maine Legislature.
Maine House of Representatives
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 25 to 40 registered voters enrolled in the party
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Section 335 - Petition Requirements (Primary) · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Maine House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Maine State Primary Election closes Mar 15, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Maine Legislature.
Judicial
Probate Judge
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 50 to 75 registered voters enrolled in the party
Maine Revised Statutes Title 4, Section 301, and Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Section 335 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Probate Judge in All Maine Counties for the 2028 Maine State Primary Election closes Mar 15, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Maine Legislature.
County
County Commissioner
Filing window: –
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Files with: Maine Secretary of State
Signatures: 50 to 75 registered voters enrolled in the party
Maine Revised Statutes Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Section 335, and Title 30-A, Section 61 · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for County Commissioner in All Maine Counties for the 2028 Maine State Primary Election closes Mar 15, 2028 at 5:00 PM America/New_York. Opens Jan 1, 2028. Source: Maine Legislature.
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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