Convicted Sex Offender Runs For Office In California On ‘Safety’ Platform
A local city council race in Fresno, California, has ignited intense debate after Rene Campos, a registered sex offender, officially launched a campaign to represent District 7.
According to ABC30, Campos was charged in 2018 with possession of child sexual abuse material. Court records show the charge was initially filed as a felony. Campos ultimately served 27 days in jail, with the remainder of his sentence fulfilled through treatment and rehabilitation programs. As required under California law, he remains a registered sex offender.
Despite that record, Campos is now seeking public office — and state law allows it.
Fresno County Clerk and Registrar of Voters James Kus confirmed that Campos’ status does not disqualify him from running. In California, once individuals complete their sentences, they may re-register to vote. If they reside in the proper jurisdiction, they are legally eligible to run for office.
Campos has framed his candidacy as rooted in lived experience. In an interview with ABC30, he said his campaign will focus on public safety and reforming laws he believes need improvement. “They say let’s choose somebody outside the box, somebody who knows the system from inside out,” Campos stated. “Because me, I’ve experienced the laws that we are trying to reform right now.”
His campaign website emphasizes reducing violent crime and promoting “clean, safe neighborhoods.” When asked by the Daily Caller News Foundation for comment, Campos responded, “I know what it means to face consequences.”
He elaborated further, saying, “I also know what it takes to rebuild. When a 15-year-old believes his life is over because of a mistake, that is more than a headline — it’s a test of whether our system balances accountability with prevention and long-term safety. Protecting children means enforcing consequences, reducing repeat harm, and building policies that prevent more damage in the first place. Public safety must be about outcomes, not outrage.”
The candidacy has drawn criticism from at least one opponent in the race. Nav Gurm, another candidate for District 7, said he believes being a registered sex offender should automatically disqualify someone from serving on the city council. He pointed to practical concerns, including restrictions that could limit access to schools and certain public spaces.
“If I’m the next council member in District 7 and I can’t show up at a school site,” Gurm said, “how can I best represent the people in the neighborhoods I want to serve?”