Source: sentencingproject.org 10/15/26
A new report released by The Sentencing Project finds that far too often, people with felony convictions are excluded from representing their communities in state legislatures, city councils, school boards, and neighborhood commissions.
[Washington, DC]- A new report released by The Sentencing Project today finds that far too often, people with felony convictions are excluded from representing their communities in state legislatures, city councils, school boards, and neighborhood commissions.
Running with Conviction: Eligibility for Elected Office with a Felony Conviction examines the legal barriers that people with felony convictions may encounter when seeking to run for public office across the United States and its territories. In addition to the state-by-state data analysis, the report examines whether eligibility to run for office with a felony conviction coincides with eligibility to vote with a felony conviction in each jurisdiction.
The report notes that President Donald Trump, while eligible for federal office, would not be allowed to run for a state legislative or city council seat in many states due to his felony convictions. While eligibility to run for federal office is set by the U.S. Constitution, which does not bar individuals with felony convictions from running for the presidency or U.S. Congress, eligibility to run for state and local offices varies widely.
“Current restrictions across the country prevent many justice-impacted individuals from wholly representing the communities they live in, said Bob Libal, Senior Campaign Strategist at The Sentencing Project and co-author of Running with Conviction. “Extending eligibility for candidacy is…
Click here to download the report
I think if more people represented the criminal justice as a felon then the system would change instead of these nothings in empty suits and pantsuits.