Filing deadlines · West Virginia

West Virginia candidate filing & campaign-finance deadlines

Official 2026 report due dates for West Virginia state candidates file with West Virginia Secretary of State.

Verified deadlines loaded
Last updated August 27, 2026
Next deadline in West Virginia
WV 3rd Quarter Report

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.

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This page also covers West Virginia 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 West Virginia: what to file, when, and with whom.

The 2026 cycle

6 report deadlines for the 2026 cycle.

These are the campaign-finance report due dates a West Virginia state candidate files with West Virginia Secretary of State for the 2026 election cycle, stored verbatim from the official schedule. The 2026 primary is May 12, 2026.

DueTypeReportCovers
Periodic
WV 1st Quarter Report
First-quarter report covering January 1 – March 31, 2026.
 Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026
Pre-election
WV Primary Report
Pre-primary report for the May 12 primary, covering April 1 – 26, 2026.
 Apr 1, 2026 – Apr 26, 2026
Periodic
WV 2nd Quarter Report
Second-quarter report (also serves the post-primary period).
 Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026
Periodic
WV 3rd Quarter Report
Third-quarter report covering July 1 – September 30, 2026.
 Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026
Pre-election
WV General Report
Pre-general report for the November 3 general, covering October 1 – 18, 2026.
 Oct 1, 2026 – Oct 18, 2026
Periodic
WV 4th Quarter Report
Fourth-quarter report (also serves the post-general period).
 Oct 19, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026

Shaded rows are deadlines that have already passed.

Good to know

Legislative cycle (Governor is 2024/2028). West Virginia uses four quarterly reports plus a Primary Report and a General Report — there are no separate post-primary or post-general reports (the 2nd-quarter report covers the post-primary period and the 4th-quarter report the post-general). Each due date is the last day of the filing window (quarterlies open the 1st with a 6-day grace; election reports open the 15th day before the election with a 4-day grace). Event-driven independent-expenditure/large-contribution reports apply separately.

Filing to run for office

West Virginia candidate-filing deadlines — 2027–2028.

Deadlines to become a qualified candidate for office in West Virginia — declarations of candidacy, nominating petitions, and related ballot-access filing requirements — compiled from West Virginia Secretary of State. Distinct from the campaign-finance report deadlines above.

2027

Municipal

Not yet published

Mayor / Municipal Council (various municipalities)

Various West Virginia Municipalities · 2027 Municipal General Elections (dates vary by municipality)

Not yet published. Specific municipal filing deadlines are set by each municipality's charter or ordinance and are not uniform statewide. Filing periods must be at least two weeks long. Without individual municipal election calls/resolutions, specific deadlines cannot be determined.

Filing authority: Municipal Clerk or Recorder.

Next check: Jun 1, 2027.

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements for municipal candidates · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Not yet independently verified

The official filing deadline for Mayor / Municipal Council (various municipalities) in Various West Virginia Municipalities for the 2027 Municipal General Elections (dates vary by municipality) has not yet been published; check with Municipal Clerk or Recorder. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

2028

Federal

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

President of the United States

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: $2,500 (maximum cap for presidential candidates)

Statutory rule: Filing period for primary election opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements of candidacies · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Not yet independently verified

Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

U.S. House of Representatives — Districts 1, 2, 3

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 1% of annual salary of the office (approximately $1,100-$1,300 estimated based on federal salary schedules)

Statutory rule: Filing period for primary election opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements of candidacies · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

President of the United States

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia General Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Write-in deadline: Sep 19, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Aug 15, 2028

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: $2,500 (maximum cap for presidential candidates)

Statutory rule: Withdrawal deadline for general election is 84 days before the general election date. (works out to Aug 15, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-11 - Withdrawals; Filling Vacancies in Candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

U.S. House of Representatives — Districts 1, 2, 3

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia General Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Write-in deadline: Sep 19, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Aug 15, 2028

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 1% of annual salary of the office (approximately $1,100-$1,300 estimated)

Statutory rule: Withdrawal deadline for general election is 84 days before the general election date. (works out to Aug 15, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-11 - Withdrawals; Filling Vacancies in Candidacy · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for U.S. House of Representatives in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

President of the United States

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia General Election ·

Filing window: Closes

Candidacy method: Independent · Deadline type: Independent candidate filing

Write-in deadline: Sep 19, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Aug 15, 2028

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: $2,500 (maximum cap) or petition in lieu of fee · Signatures: 1% of votes cast for the office in the last preceding general election (minimum 25 signatures)

Statutory rule: Independent and write-in candidates must file no later than 49 days before the general election. (works out to Sep 19, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-6-4A - Write-in candidate certificate of announcement · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for President of the United States in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Sep 19, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Statewide

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

Governor

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 1% of annual salary of office (approximately $8,500 for Governor based on WV salary schedules; cap is $2,500)

Statutory rule: Filing period for primary election opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 and §3-5-8 - Filing and fees · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for Governor in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

Secretary of State

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 1% of annual salary of office (capped at $2,500)

Statutory rule: Filing period for primary election opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements of candidacies · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for Secretary of State in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

State Legislative

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

House of Delegates — Districts 1-100

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 0.5% of annual salary of office (approximately $150-$250 estimated)

Statutory rule: Filing period for primary election opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements of candidacies · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for House of Delegates in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

State Senate — Districts 1-17 (approximately half up in 2028)

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 1% of annual salary of office (approximately $200-$300 estimated)

Statutory rule: Filing period for primary election opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements of candidacies · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for State Senate in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

Judicial

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

Justice, West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals — Districts/Divisions by residency

Statewide · 2028 West Virginia Primary Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Party Primary · Deadline type: Party primary filing

Files with: West Virginia Secretary of State

Fee: 1% of annual salary of office

Statutory rule: Filing period for judicial candidates opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary election date, which is also the nonpartisan election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements of candidacies · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for Justice, West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in Statewide for the 2028 West Virginia Primary Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

County

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

County Commission

All Counties (55 WV Counties) · 2028 West Virginia General Election ·

Filing window: Closes

Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing

Write-in deadline: Sep 19, 2028 · Withdrawal deadline: Aug 15, 2028

Files with: County Clerk

Fee: $10 per candidate

Statutory rule: General election filing deadline is 49 days before the general election date. (works out to Sep 19, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-6-4A - Write-in candidate deadline; §3-5-8 filing fees · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for County Commission in All Counties (55 WV Counties) for the 2028 West Virginia General Election (Nov 7, 2028) closes Sep 19, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia Legislature.

School Board

Calculated from statute — not an official calendar date

County Board of Education

All West Virginia County School Districts (55 districts) · 2028 West Virginia School Board Election ·

Filing window: –

Candidacy method: Nonpartisan · Deadline type: Nonpartisan filing

Files with: County Clerk

Fee: $25

Statutory rule: School board filing period opens on second Monday in January and closes on last Saturday in January before the primary/school board election date. (works out to Jan 29, 2028)

West Virginia Code §3-5-7 - Filing certificates of announcements; School board election held on primary date · accessed Jul 13, 2026

Last verified Jul 13, 2026

Filing for County Board of Education in All West Virginia County School Districts (55 districts) for the 2028 West Virginia School Board Election (May 9, 2028) closes Jan 29, 2028. Opens Jan 10, 2028. This date is calculated from statute and is not an official calendar date. Source: West Virginia 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

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