Handbook·Elections

Running for office in Washington

State page·Verified 2026-07-10

This page covers what's specific to Washington. Start with the general guide for the steps every candidate follows regardless of state.

Filing in Washington

Washington concentrates almost all candidate filing into a single week each election year, called Candidate Filing Week. Anyone seeking state legislative, statewide, federal, or most local offices (county, city, school board, port, fire district, and similar) declares candidacy during this window rather than on a rolling basis.

Where you file depends on the office. Statewide, federal, and state legislative candidates file with the Washington Secretary of State's Office in Olympia. County, city, and most special-purpose district candidates file with their county auditor instead. Filing can be done online through VoteWA.gov, in person, or by mail. You must be a registered voter in the jurisdiction you want to represent and generally must have resided in the relevant state, county, and district or precinct for at least 30 days before filing.

Deadlines and numbers

  • 2026 Candidate Filing Week: Monday, May 4 through Friday, May 8. Online filing opens 8:00 a.m. May 4 and closes 5:00 p.m. sharp May 8.
  • Early mail filing may start 10 business days before filing week opens (April 20, 2026)
  • Candidate withdrawal deadline: May 11, 2026
  • Final day to submit a candidate statement and photo for the state Voters' Pamphlet: May 19, 2026
  • Filing fee: 1 percent of the office's annual salary, for any office paying more than $1,000 a year (RCW 29A.24.091)
  • Signature-in-lieu-of-fee option: one signature per whole dollar of the filing fee, filed on paper only

Exact per-office filing fee dollar amounts vary by jurisdiction and salary and aren't centrally published in one table. Confirm the specific fee with the Secretary of State or your county auditor, or ask in /engage.

Where to go

  • Washington Secretary of State, filing requirements and schedule: sos.wa.gov/elections/candidates/filing-resources/file-office
  • Candidate Filing FAQ: sos.wa.gov/elections/candidates/frequently-asked-questions/candidate-filing-frequently-asked-questions
  • Online filing for all levels of office: VoteWA.gov
  • Your county auditor's elections page for local and county offices
  • RCW 29A.24.091, the statute governing filing fees and the signature-in-lieu option