Running for Partisan Office
as a Green Party member
Question: When does a potential Green Party candidate have to be registered as a Green Party member, in order to run on the Green Party ballot line in a partisan election for state or Federal office?
Answer (Part 1): The California Elections Code establishes the answer to this question, under § 8001(a) Party Affiliation of Candidates for Partisan Office:
"No candidate shall file a declaration of candidacy for a partisan state constitutional or legislative office unless:
- at the time of presentation of the declaration and continuously for not less than three months immediately prior to that time, or for as long as he/she has been eligible to register to vote in the state, the candidate is shown by his/her affidavit of registration to be affiliated with the political party whose nomination he/she seeks, and
- within 12 months immediately prior to the filing of the declaration, the candidate has not been registered with a qualified political party other than that political party whose nomination he/she seeks."
Answer (Part 2):
The California Elections Code establishes the date for declaration of candidacy (E-113 or 113 days before the Primary election), under § 8020(b):
"The forms shall first be available on the 113th day prior to the direct primary election..."