Running for statewide office is one of the best ways to build a state affiliate from a handful of activists to an effective statewide party organization. A statewide campaign in 2010 is also the best way to set our presidential ticket up for success in 2012. However, in most states it involves petitioning of statewide ballot access.

To petition, you will need time commitments from activists in your state, funds to hire professional petitioners, and the support of our national organization to help raise and bring in activists to help petition. You'll need to start working on this process NOW if you want to run candidates for statewide office in 2010.

To start, you need a candidate. Please consider running yourself. Also, post to this site and to our social networks to seek potential candidates and campaign supporters.

Ballot Access News has a table that tells you how many signatures you will need in your state. Then you can check with your Secretary of State for details about how you must gather the petitions. You will have to follow these requirements very carefully unless you are ready to file an expensive lawsuit to approve a petition that wasn't done correctly, like so many third parties often have to do.

This year's political campaigns set up the success of our party for years to come. Now is the time to get your 2010 campaigns ready. Start by using our online resources to find candidates and supporters to form campaigns. Please email me through the contact page if you have any questions or need our national support.