The following pages provide an abbreviation of the steps required to run for office. The Ethics Commission has produced a comprehensive Candidates’ Guide for City Elective Office, as well as supplements for candidates for Mayor or Supervisor, that explain the rules in detail. Additionally, please review filing schedules which outline campaign finance disclosure deadlines.
County Central Committee seats are NOT considered City elective offices and have different filing obligations. Candidates for these seats should see the Information for Candidates for County Central Committee page.
To get started candidates for City elective office must complete the following steps:
Establish candidacy
Set up an electronic filing account
Candidates that file the FPPC Form 410 and establish a committee must file campaign statements electronically. Candidates that file FPPC Form 470 may opt to file electronic statements. Review the registration requirements to sign up for electronic filing.
City elective office
Before a candidate solicits or accepts campaign contributions (including loans) or uses any personal funds for campaign purposes (excluding filing fees), the candidate must file a Candidate Intention Statement (FPPC Form 501) with the San Francisco Ethics Commission and a Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Accept Contributions with the San Francisco Department of Elections. Please contact the Department of Elections for questions about qualifying as a candidate for the ballot (see link below).
- Candidate Intention Statement (FPPC Form 501)
- Declaration of Intent to Solicit and Accept Contributions (obtained and filed with the San Francisco Department of Elections)
County Central Committee
County Central Committee seats are NOT considered City elective offices and have different filing obligations. Candidates for these seats should see the Information for Candidates for County Central Committee page.
Disclose financial interests
Each candidate must file a Statement of Economic Interests (FPPC Form 700) with the Department of Elections disclosing investments, interests in real property, and income received during the immediately preceding 12 months. This statement must be filed by the deadline for filing nomination papers. Please note: The Department of Elections requires this form to be filed in hard-copy.
File a Statement of Organization
If a candidate raises $2,000 or more, he or she must file a Statement of Organization (FPPC Form 410) with the Secretary of State (SOS) and the Ethics Commission within 10 days of receiving contributions totaling $2,000 or more. This statement may be filed before a candidate receives $2,000 if the candidate anticipates receiving $2,000 or more. After the Form 410 is filed, the SOS will issue an identification number (FPPC ID#) that the candidate must use on all subsequent filings. Candidate-controlled committees must include the following information in the committee’s name: the last name of the controlling candidate, the office sought and the year of the election.
If a candidate does not plan to raise $2,000, the candidate may elect to file an Officeholder/Candidate Campaign Statement-Short Form (FPPC Form 470) rather than FPPC Form 410. Candidates with controlled committees may not use the FPPC Form 470.
- Officeholder/Candidate Campaign Statement-Short Form (FPPC Form 470) (Optionally may be filed in electronic format)
Complete training
Candidates for City elective office and their treasurer/assistant treasurer must complete a training prescribed by the Ethics Commission prior to each election in which the candidate will appear on the ballot. An individual who serves as the treasurer for more than one committee is not required to complete a training if that individual has completed such a training within the previous 12 months. While other campaign representatives are not required to complete a training session, they are welcome to attend a live session, or view the online version of the training.
Important: After completing the training, the candidate and treasurer/assistant treasurer must file a Training for Candidates and Treasurers (Form SFEC-107).