Campaign Finance

Candidate Qualifications

A candidate must have been a qualified elector and resident of the City of Tucson for not less than three (3) years immediately prior to becoming a candidate. Additionally, council candidates shall have resided in the ward for which nomination is sought at least one (1) year immediately prior to becoming a candidate, unless such residence has been shortened by the redistricting of the City as to wards. (Note: Time of residence in any area and being a qualified elector thereof shall be counted as residence and electoral qualifications within the City one (1) year after the area becomes annexed to the City).

An Individual can not run simultaneously for both Mayor and Council Member during this election.

Individuals who are members of the Democratic, Republican or Libertarian parties may participate in the Primary Election either by obtaining enough signatures to have their names printed on the Primary Election ballot, or by filing as write-in candidates. Candidates nominated in the Primary Election will be placed on the ballot for the General Election. In addition, individuals who are not members of the Democratic, Republican or Libertarian parties may have their names placed on the General Election ballot either by obtaining the required number of signatures for Nomination Other than by Primary or by filing as write-in candidates.

Filing a Statement of Organization or a $500 Threshold Exemption Statement

Every candidate or political committee shall file a Statement of Organization or a $500 Threshold Exemption Statement with the City Clerk before making expenditures, accepting any contributions, distributing any campaign literature or circulating any petitions. (This also applies to committees that have filed a Statement of Organization or a $500 Threshold Exemption Statement with another jurisdiction.)

If a candidate or political committee has filed a $500 Exemption Statement and receives contributions or makes expenditures of more then $500, that candidate or political committee shall file a Statement of Organization with the City Clerk within five business days after exceeding the $500 limit.

A political committee registered in another state that intends to use monies in Arizona which were raised before filing the Statement of Organization shall also file with the City Clerk complete copies of its previous campaign finance or other similar reports filed in those other jurisdictions. The reports must cover all contributions or receipts for the preceding two years.

Campaign Finance Laws

All candidates must comply with all laws regarding campaign financing including those contained in the Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 16. These laws pertain to the organization of political committees, contributions, mandatory limits on campaign contributions, campaign finance reporting, identification of campaign literature and other campaign related matters. Information regarding the city public matching funds program is included in the Campaign Financing Laws section. Candidates who wish to participate in the program must sign a Campaign Contract within thirty (30) days after becoming a candidate or at the time of filing for office, whichever is earlier.