How does someone officially become a presidential candidate?
A person becomes an official presidential candidate by filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) once they raise or spend more than $5,000, or by making a public declaration of candidacy.
Under Federal Election Commission rules, a person becomes a candidate for federal office - including the presidency - when they raise or spend more than $5,000 in connection with a potential campaign, or when they make a public announcement of candidacy. Either trigger requires them to file a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) within 15 days.
Filing with the FEC creates a legal campaign committee, allows the candidate to raise and spend money for the campaign, subjects the candidate to disclosure rules (quarterly fundraising reports), and makes them eligible for federal matching funds if they opt into the public financing system.
Being an FEC-registered candidate does not get you on the ballot. Getting on the primary ballot is a separate process governed by each state's laws, typically requiring a filing fee and/or a petition with a minimum number of voter signatures submitted by a state deadline.
For the general election, each party's nominee is placed on the ballot automatically in most states. Third-party and independent candidates face more demanding ballot-access requirements that vary enormously by state - some require tens of thousands of signatures gathered in a short window.
Related questions
How do I know who has filed with the FEC for 2028?
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Related explainers
The 2028 presidential campaign effectively starts after the November 2026 midterms, with formal announcements expected through 2027 - historically 12 to 18 months before the first primaries in early 2028. There is no legal start date, and as of July 2026 no major candidate has formally declared.
Presidential nominees are chosen by their party's national convention, based on delegates won in state primaries and caucuses. The person who wins a majority of delegates becomes the official nominee.
Unknown. As of June 2026, no major third-party candidacy has been announced. Third-party campaigns have been a feature of several recent elections; whether one emerges in 2028 depends on the major-party nominees and political conditions.
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