How to Run for Office in Washington
Getting on the Ballot
Washington concentrates nearly all candidate filing into a single statewide Candidate Filing Week - the first full week of May, Monday through Friday. You file a declaration of candidacy online or in person: statewide and multi-county offices with the Secretary of State, everything else with your county auditor. The filing fee is generally 1% of the office's annual salary (offices with no salary have no fee), with a petition alternative for candidates who can't afford it.
Washington uses the top-two primary: all candidates appear on one August primary ballot, each stating a party preference rather than receiving a party nomination, and the top two vote-getters advance to November regardless of party. For many local nonpartisan offices, no primary is held at all unless three or more candidates file.
Ballot order is drawn by lot at the close of filing week.
Where Local Candidates File
Your county auditor (the county elections office) handles filing for county, city, school, and district offices, publishes the local filing fee schedule, and runs a special three-day filing period for nonpartisan offices that drew no candidates. Campaign finance is entirely separate: the Public Disclosure Commission in Olympia handles registration and reporting for state and local candidates.
Worth Knowing
- The PDC clock starts before filing week: within two weeks of publicly announcing or organizing a campaign, you must register with the PDC and file an F-1 Personal Financial Affairs statement - months before you file your declaration of candidacy.
- Candidates expecting to raise and spend modestly can choose mini reporting with the PDC - dramatically simplified disclosure for small campaigns, a genuine gift to school board and small-city candidates.
- The "election day" push is really an 18-day ballot-return window - schedule GOTV from ballot drop, not the deadline.
Official Washington Resources
Filing deadlines, fees, and signature requirements change from cycle to cycle. Always confirm current details with the official sources below.
This page was last reviewed on August 4, 2026. Process details above are believed current as of that date; deadlines and fees should always be verified with your election office.