General Candidate Requirements

Overview

Keep reading to learn about the general candidate requirements to run for office, or click the links below to jump to a subject on this page.

Qualifications

Unless otherwise specified, all candidates must be registered to vote in the state, qualified to vote in an election for the office sought, and 21 years old by the date of the general election. The following table lists additional requirements for certain offices.

OfficeAdditional requirements
U.S. Senate

Candidates must be:

  • at least 30 years of age,
  • a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and
  • a resident of the state by the date of the general election.
U.S. Congress

Candidates must be:

  • at least 25 years of age,
  • a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and
  • a resident of the state by the date of the general election. (A candidate running for U.S. House is not required to be a resident of the congressional district in which the candidate is seeking election.)
Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Candidates must be:

  • at least 30 years of age,
  • a citizen of the United States for at least five years, and
  • a resident of North Carolina for at least two years by the date of the general election. Candidates must also not have served more than two consecutive terms of the same office.
Council of StateN/A
Attorney GeneralCandidates must be duly authorized to practice law in the courts of the state.
NC HouseCandidates must have resided in the district for one year immediately prior to general election.
NC Senate

Candidates must:

  • be at least 25 years of age and
  • have resided in the state as a citizen for two years and in the district for one year prior to the general election.
Judicial and District AttorneyCandidates must be duly authorized to practice law in the courts of the state.
County and LocalN/A

Only One Office per Election

No person may file for more than one office in any one election:

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