How old do you have to be to run for president?

Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution requires that the president be 'at the Age of thirty five Years.' This minimum age applies at the time of taking office, not necessarily at the time of filing or campaigning. A candidate who turns 35 before Inauguration Day on January 20, 2029 would satisfy the requirement.

The 35-year threshold was set at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Framers believed a minimum age helped ensure maturity and life experience, though the exact number was somewhat arbitrary - other ages were considered.

There is no constitutional maximum age. The question of whether very old candidates are physically or cognitively suited for office is a political and medical judgment, not a legal one. Voters and parties assess this, but courts do not.

In practice the minimum age has never been a barrier in modern elections; major-party nominees in recent decades have all been well past 35. The constraint is more relevant for younger House members or rising political figures who might otherwise seek the presidency.