Requirements for Office

Offices and Terms

Below is a list of the elective offices that citizens of Philadelphia may pursue.  Next to each office is the duration of the term and examples of the years in which each office is up for election.  Offices marked with an (*) are party-specific, and therefore only elected in Primary Elections.

Local Offices:

• Mayor – 4 years; 2023, 2027, etc. (No more than two consecutive terms)
• District Attorney – 4 years; 2021, 2025, etc.
• City Controller – 4 years; 2021, 2025, etc.
• City Commissioner – 4 years; 2023, 2027, etc.
• Register of Wills – 4 years; 2023, 2027, etc.
• Sheriff – 4 years; 2023, 2027, etc.
• At-Large City Council – 4 years; 2023, 2027, etc.
• District City Council – 4 years; 2023, 2027, etc.
• Judge of Election – 4 years; 2021, 2025, etc.
• Inspector of Election – 4 years; 2021, 2025, etc.
• Committeeperson* – 4 years; 2022, 2026, etc.

State Offices:

• Governor – 4 years; 2022, 2026, etc. (No more than two consecutive terms)
• Lieutenant Governor * – 4 years; 2022, 2026, etc.  Nominees are elected in the Primary Election and run as a part of the gubernatorial ticket in the General Election. (No more than two consecutive terms)
• Attorney General – 4 years; 2024, 2028 etc.
• Auditor General – 4 years; 2024, 2028 etc.
• State Treasurer – 4 years; 2024, 2028 etc.
• State Senate – 4 years; even-numbered State Senate seats are elected in 2022, 2026, etc. Odd-numbered State Senate seats are elected in 2024, 2028, etc.
• State House of Representatives – 2 years; 2022, 2024, etc.
• State Committee* – 4 years; 2022, 2026, etc.
• National Convention Delegate* – 4 years; 2024, 2028, etc.
• National Convention Alternate Delegate* – 4 years; 2024, 2028, etc.

Federal Offices:

• President – 4 years; 2024, 2028, etc. (No more than two terms)
• U.S. Senate – 6 years; The seat currently held by Senator Toomey is elected in 2022, 2028, etc.  The seat currently held by Senator Casey is elected in 2024, 2030, etc.
• U.S. House of Representatives – 2 years; 2022, 2024, etc.

Judicial Offices:

• Supreme Court of the Commonwealth
• Superior Court
• Commonwealth Court
• Common Pleas Court
• Municipal Court

Age, Residency, and Citizenship Requirements for Elective Offices

This chart, from the Pennsylvania Department of State, shows the age, residency, and citizenship requirements to seek elective office for federal, state, local, or judicial offices in Pennsylvania. 

This chart shows the age, residency, and citizenship requirements for local offices:

For more detailed information about running for an elective office in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of State.