The Political Candidacy Process
Running for office in Pennsylvania involves several key steps. Here's a quick breakdown of the process:
- Determine Eligibility
Ensure you meet the basic requirements for the office you intend to run for. This typically includes age, residency, and citizenship requirements. For example, to run for the Pennsylvania State Legislature, you must be at least 21 years old and a resident of the district you wish to represent. - Choose the Office
Decide which office you want to run for, such as local positions (e.g., city council, mayor), state positions (e.g., state representative, state senator), or federal positions (e.g., U.S. House of Representatives). - Understand the Election Cycle
Familiarize yourself with the election cycle for the office. Pennsylvania holds elections for municipal offices in odd-numbered years and state/federal offices in even-numbered years. Primaries typically occur in the spring, and general elections in November. - Gather Information
Obtain the necessary information and materials from the Pennsylvania Department of State or your Erie County Elections Office. This includes understanding the filing deadlines, signature requirements, and any fees. - File a Nomination Petition
Collect the required number of signatures from registered voters in your district. The number of signatures varies depending on the office and whether you are running in a primary or as an independent. - Submit Nomination Papers
File your nomination papers with the appropriate election office by the specified deadline. This includes your nomination petition, a statement of financial interests, and any applicable filing fees. - Campaigning
Develop a campaign strategy, including fundraising, outreach, and communication plans. Engage with voters through events, social media, and other platforms to build support. - Comply with Campaign Finance Laws
Adhere to Pennsylvania's campaign finance laws, which include reporting contributions and expenditures. You may need to set up a campaign committee and file regular financial reports. - Participate in Debates and Forums
Engage in public debates and forums to present your platform and answer questions from voters. - Election Day
Ensure your supporters know when and where to vote. Monitor the election process and prepare for the results. - Post-Election
If you win, prepare for the transition into office. If not, consider your next steps, whether it involves future campaigns or other forms of public service.
Candidate Resources
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Guidance on where campaign signs may be placed, and for how long.
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Rules and guidance for running as a write-in candidate.
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A complete summation of campaign finance reporting law, assembled by the Department of State.
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Frequently asked questions about reporting campaign contributions, expenditures, and independent expenditures
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2025 campaign finance reporting dates (not applicable to candidates running for federal offices)
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Important dates and deadlines for nominations, withdrawals, registrations, and ballots.
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Campaign Finance Reporting
Candidates for statewide, legislative and judicial offices, as well as political committees registered in Pennsylvania should file campaign finance reports by visiting www.dos.pa.gov. Campaign finance reports can now be filed and reviewed online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Reports filed by other local candidates or political committees can be viewed below or in the Erie County Office of Elections, 140 W. Sixth Street, Erie PA 16501
POSTMARKS are acceptable as proof of timely filing when the report is postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service no later than the day prior to the filing deadline.
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Official website of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission
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Required by Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission as a pledge to not use public position for financial gain that is not allowed by law.
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To accompany an independent expenditure report t in lieu of a sworn statement (need not be notarized, must be signed by hand).
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To accompany a campaign finance statement in lieu of a sworn statement (need not be notarized, must be signed by hand).
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To accompany a campaign finance report in lieu of a sworn statement (need not be notarized, must be signed by hand).
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If you make an independent expenditure (an expenditure not in cooperation or consultation with any candidate or candidate's political committee) to influence the outcome of the election of a candidate or ballot question in the amount of $500.00 or more after the final pre-primary/pre-election reporting period through Election Day you must complete and submit a report within 24 hours. This form can be faxed or emailed as well as submitted in person.
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If a candidate or committee receives a contribution of $500.00 or more after the final pre-primary/pre-election reporting period through Election Day they must complete and submit a report within 24 hours. Late contributions should also be included in your post-election report. This form can be faxed or emailed as well as submitted in person.
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If you make an Independent Expenditure (an expenditure not in cooperation or consultation with any candidate or candidate's political committee) to influence the outcome of the election of a candidate or ballot question, you must file this report if the expenditure exceeds $100 in a calendar year.
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Standard campaign finance reporting form for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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You may file this statement in lieu of a full report when the amount of contributions (including in-kind contributions) received, the amount of money expended, and the liabilities incurred each did not exceed $250.00 during the reporting period.
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Types of Political Committees
Various entities can contribute to or accept contributions for a candidate's campaigns. A candidate will typically fund a portion of their campaign themself, while relying on individual and party contributions — as well as funds raised by political committees — to finance the rest.
Each of these entities must adhere to specific legal requirements regarding contribution limits, disclosure, and reporting. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulates federal campaign finance, while state-level campaigns are regulated by state election offices, such as the Pennsylvania Department of State for Pennsylvania campaigns.
Political Action Committees (PACs)
PACs are organizations that collect contributions from members and donate those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. They are subject to contribution limits and reporting requirements.
Super PACs
Unlike traditional PACs, Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates. However, they cannot directly contribute to or coordinate with a candidate's campaign.
Small Donor Committees
These are committees that receive contributions from a large number of small donors. They may have different contribution limits compared to traditional PACs.
Joint Fundraising Committees
These are fundraising arrangements between a candidate's campaign and one or more party committees or PACs. They allow for larger fundraising events and the distribution of funds according to pre-agreed terms.