Run for office in Harrisburg, PA.
Offices with upcoming filing dates and elections. Includes Dauphin County races open to Harrisburg residents.
Harrisburg has 22 municipal offices on the upcoming ballot, with the nearest filing deadline on August 2, 2027.
Harrisburg municipal races
About these offices
The City Legislature is the municipality's governing body, responsible for voting on ordinances and policies, and often is in charge of hiring a city manager.
The City Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the city.
The City Constable is responsible for law enforcement functions similar to police officers such as arrests and traffic citations, but the City Constable also works closely with courts to perform judicial tasks like serving warrants and subpoenas.
The City Comptroller is the chief financial officer of the city, and is responsible for auditing city agencies, their performance, and spending.
The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the municipality. They often preside over council meetings and may have the power to hire and fire heads of municipal departments.
School board & local district races
| Office | Election date | Filing deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg City School Board | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Harrisburg City School Board | Nov 6, 2029 | Aug 1, 2029 |
About these offices
Local school board members are responsible for overseeing school operations within the district, typically including employment decisions regarding a district superintendent.
Dauphin County races (open to Harrisburg residents)
| Office | Election date | Filing deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Dauphin County Commission | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Court Clerk | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County District Attorney | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Sheriff | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Treasurer | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Controller | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Recorder of Deeds | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court | Nov 2, 2027 | Aug 2, 2027 |
| Dauphin County Coroner | Nov 6, 2029 | Aug 1, 2029 |
| Dauphin County Prothonotary | Nov 6, 2029 | Aug 1, 2029 |
| Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge - District 12-1-04 | Nov 6, 2029 | Aug 1, 2029 |
About these offices
The County Council is responsible for all legislative and administrative functions of certain county governments, including the adoption of a budget setting local tax rates and fees. Although the Council oversees all service departments, the Executive Director, a Council appointee, is directly responsible for the regular operations. The County Council is involved in a range of activities including economic development, public transportation, waste disposal, human services, housing, land use and culture.
The County Court Clerk is responsible for maintaining court records, authenticating court orders and judgements, and administering oaths to witnesses and jurors.
The District Attorney prosecutes crimes committed in the county and works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to ensure the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are upheld and that citizens are protected. The District Attorney has authority over criminal investigations and prosecutions in the county, the steps of which include preliminary hearings, pre-trial conferences, guilty pleas, trials and appeals.
The County Sheriff is the chief law enforcement official of the county and is responsible for ensuring that all local, state, and federal laws are followed.
The County Treasurer or Finance Officer is responsible for the safekeeping of public funds as well as receiving and distributing the revenue and public funds of the county. The County Treasurer or Finance Officer oversees the financial and budgetary administration ensuring regulation is followed in accounting matters as well as county purchasing.
The county Controller is the county's independently elected fiscal watchdog and auditor, exercising general supervision and control over its financial affairs. The Controller is authorized to examine the accounts and official acts of all officers or other persons who collect, receive, or disperse the county's money and may investigate accusations of mismanagement and fraud among local agencies, employees, and contractors.
The County Recorder, Register of Deeds, or Register of Mesne Conveyance is the officer responsible for keeping records of vital statistics, notarized deeds of trust, and other deeds affecting real property.
The County Register of Wills and the Clerk of Orphans Court is a joint position that is responsible for maintaining records of wills and inventory of estates. The County Register of Wills and the Clerk of Orphans Court keeps record of court documents, issues marriage licenses, and maintains records on adoption and guardianship of minors.
The County Coroner or Medical Examiner is responsible for inquiring into the cause and manner of death of a citizen in their jurisdiction. The County Coroner or Medical Examiner is also responsible for completing test results, documenting evidence, completing autopsies, and providing testimonies.
The county Prothonotary is an elected row officer responsible for official documents related to civil and family matters in local courts. Legal documents recorded can include appeals, equity, divorce, executions, final orders, judgments, liens or subpoenas. The Prothonotary also processes appeals from lower courts to the appellate courts.
County Court Judges are responsible for adjudicating cases in Civil and Criminal Courts at the trial-level in certain specific areas, such as small-claims court or drug court.
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Election data sourced from BallotReady / CivicEngine and updated weekly.