Running for Office

• Mayor
• Ward 1 Councilmember
• Ward 3 Councilmember
• Ward 5 Councilmember

The City Clerk's Office handles filings for City offices and the Rochester Public Schools School Board. Candidates wishing to file for other offices need to file with the appropriate filing official.

• Four School Board Directors will be up for election 

For filing questions about the school board, contact the City Clerk's Office.

For all other questions relating to school board members, reach out to Rochester Public Schools.

City Council Filing Fee

The filing fee for all City offices is set at $50.00 by the Rochester City Charter.

Instead of a fee:

Candidates may also present a petition with signatures of eligible voters in lieu of the filing fee, pursuant to Minn. Stat. 204B.11 Subd. 2. The number of required signatures is equal to the lesser of 5% of all voters casting a ballot the last time the office was on the ballot or 500.

School Board Filing Fee

The filing fee for a school board member is set by state law at $2.00.

Filing for 2026 Municipal offices is now closed. 

Filing for the four School Board Director positions will take place from Tuesday, July 14, 2026, through Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each business day.

Candidates could file:

• In person with the City Clerk's office at City Hall, 201 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Appointments are encouraged but not necessary. 
• Electronically by email to elections@rochestermn.gov. 
• By mail or delivery service. 
  
  All affidavits of candidacy must be notarized. 

Required at Time of Filing

1. Affidavit of Candidacy must be notarized prior to submission or at the time of in-person filing
2. Fee ($50 for Council, $2 for School Board)

Withdrawal of Candidacy

School Director Candidates who file for an office can withdraw from candidacy by filing an affidavit of withdrawal in the City Clerk's Office no later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the close of the filing period, Thursday, July 30, 2026.

Qualifications for Mayor/Councilmember At Large

• Must be a resident of the city of Rochester for at least 30 days prior to filing for candidacy for the office.
  Must be a qualified voter in the State of Minnesota.
• Candidates filing for office must be 21 years of age or older when the oath of said office is taken. (Oath of office will be taken on the first Monday in January at the first Council meeting of the new term.)

Qualifications for Councilmember

• Must be a resident of the ward for which the person is running for at least 30 days prior to filing for candidacy for the office, or of the City of Rochester for the councilmember-at-large and Mayor.
• Must be a qualified voter in the State of Minnesota.
• Candidates filing for office must be 21 years of age or older when the oath of said office is taken. (Oath of office will be taken on the first Monday in January at the first Council meeting of the new term.)
• Candidates may not file for any other office to be voted on at the same Charter Election.

Qualifications for School Board Director

• Must be an eligible voter
• Must be 21 years of age or more on assuming office
  must have been a resident of the school district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the general election
• Must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the next ensuing general election.
  
  
  Individuals cannot serve as a school member if:
• The individual is employed by the district and makes more than $20,000 in a fiscal year. If an individual makes more than this, the individual must resign if elected.
• The individual holds another elected position except township board 
• The individual is a convicted sex offender.