When do I need to register my candidacy?

Are you thinking of running for office? What in the disclosure law determines that you are a candidate?

By doing any one of these actions, you have become a candidate:

1. Accept a contribution or spend money for your campaign,
2. Reserve space or purchase advertising to promote your candidacy,
3. Authorize someone else to do any of these activities for you,
4. State publicly that you are seeking office,
5. File a declaration of candidacy.

Once you have become a candidate, you have two weeks to file a Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1) and a Candidate Registration (C-1) with the PDC. (An incumbent officeholder who has filed an F-1 earlier in the year does not need to file a second F-1 in the same year after becoming a candidate).

Visit the PDC File Online page at https://www.pdc.wa.gov/learn/file-online for the F-1, C-1, and other reports. Visit the PDC Guides and Training Videos page at https://www.pdc.wa.gov/learn/publications for helpful manuals, brochures, and videos.