Michigan candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines
Official 2026 report due dates for Michigan state candidates file with Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections.
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 Michigan 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 Michigan: what to file, when, and with whom.
5 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.
These are the campaign-finance report due dates a Michigan state candidate files with Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is Aug 4, 2026.
| Due | Type | Report | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual/Year-end | MI Annual Campaign Statement Annual statement with December 31, 2025 closing date; due January 31 (2026: moved to Monday, February 2). Waived if a post-election statement was filed during December 2025. |
— – Dec 31, 2025 | |
| Pre-election | MI Pre-Primary Campaign Statement Pre-election statement due the 11th day before the August 4 primary; closing date July 19. |
— – Jul 19, 2026 | |
| Post-election | MI Post-Primary Campaign Statement Post-election statement due the 30th day after the August 4 primary; closing date August 24. |
Jul 20, 2026 – Aug 24, 2026 | |
| Pre-election | MI Pre-General Campaign Statement Pre-election statement due the 11th day before the November 3 general; closing date October 18. |
Aug 25, 2026 – Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Post-election | MI Post-General Campaign Statement Post-election statement due the 30th day after the November 3 general; closing date November 23. Filing in December waives the February 2027 annual statement. |
Oct 19, 2026 – Nov 23, 2026 |
Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.
Good to know
Statement coverage begins the day after your committee's last statement's closing date, so start dates depend on filing history. Convention-nominated candidates file pre/post-convention statements instead of primary ones — confirm dates with the Bureau.
Michigan candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.
Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in Michigan — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from Michigan Secretary of State. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.
2028
Federal
U.S. House of Representatives — At-Large (all districts)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Write-in deadline: Apr 21, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
Signatures: Nominating petition required; specific signature requirements vary by district
MCL Section 168.163 - Nomination of Candidates for State and District Offices by Political Party; Filing of Petitions · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan Primary Election (May 2, 2028) closes Jan 18, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives — At-Large (all districts)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Candidate filing
Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
MCL Section 168.644e - Nomination of Candidates at Partisan Primary Election; Filing Deadline · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 25, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
U.S. House of Representatives — At-Large (all districts)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing
Petition deadline: Jul 25, 2028 · Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
Signatures: For statewide office: minimum 12,000 valid signatures from registered voters, with at least 100 signatures from at least half (5) of Michigan's congressional districts. Actual requirement may be higher per current law.
Michigan Ballot Access Requirements - Secretary of State · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 25, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Secretary of State.
President of the United States
Not yet published. Presidential primary election is conducted by political parties to express voter preference and select delegates. Specific filing procedures and deadlines for presidential candidates are determined by party rules, not by state statute for this special primary.
Filing authority: Michigan Secretary of State.
Next check: Sep 1, 2027.
MCL Section 168.613a - Presidential Primary Election · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
The official filing deadline for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan Presidential Primary Election (Feb 22, 2028) has not yet been published; check with Michigan Secretary of State. Source: Michigan Legislature.
President of the United States
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Candidate filing
Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
MCL Section 168.685 et seq. - General Election Filing Deadlines · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 25, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
All Elective Offices
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Write In · Deadline type: Write-in filing
Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: Election official for each office (varies by office level)
MCL Section 168.737a - Write-in Vote; Declaration of Intent; Filing · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for All Elective Offices in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Oct 27, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
State Legislative
Michigan State Senate — All districts (38 total)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Write-in deadline: Apr 21, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
Signatures: Nominating petition required; signature requirements established per MCL 168.163
MCL Section 168.163 - Nomination of Candidates for State and District Offices by Political Party · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Michigan State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan Primary Election (May 2, 2028) closes Jan 18, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
Michigan State Senate — All districts (38 total)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Candidate filing
Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
MCL Section 168.685 - General Election Filing Deadlines · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for Michigan State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 25, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
Michigan House of Representatives — All districts (110 total)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing
Write-in deadline: Apr 21, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
Signatures: Nominating petition required per MCL 168.163
MCL Section 168.163 - Nomination of Candidates for State and District Offices by Political Party · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Not yet independently verified
Filing for Michigan House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan Primary Election (May 2, 2028) closes Jan 18, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
Michigan House of Representatives — All districts (110 total)
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Candidate filing
Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: Michigan Secretary of State
MCL Section 168.685 - General Election Filing Deadlines · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for Michigan House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 25, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
School Board
School Board Member — Individual districts
Filing window: Closes
Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing
Petition deadline: Jul 25, 2028 · Write-in deadline: Oct 27, 2028
Files with: School District Filing Official / County Clerk
Signatures: Signatures required on nominating petition: 6-20 signatures (if district population under 10,000) or 40-100 signatures (if population 10,000 or more) per MCL 168.558
MCL Section 168.558 - Nomination of School District Officers by Nominating Petition · accessed Jul 13, 2026
Last verified Jul 13, 2026
Filing for School Board Member in All Independent School Districts (state-level framework) for the 2028 Michigan General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jul 25, 2028 at 4:00 PM America/Detroit. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: Michigan Legislature.
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