UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn running for local office in Hawaii amid numerous other legal issues

UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn, 47, is running for the District 1 council seat in Hawaii's local government, marking his second bid for elected office in the state. Penn previously attempted to become governor in 2022 but was unsuccessful.

Penn's political ambition comes amid a turbulent legal period. In 2025, he was arrested five times on abuse of family or household member charges stemming from allegations made by his mother, Lorraine Shin. Shin obtained a temporary restraining order against her son, which Penn violated multiple times, leading to additional arrests. According to court filings, Shin accused Penn of extreme psychological abuse and claimed he believed she and other family members had been replaced by imposters—a condition she identified as Capgras delusional syndrome, a psychiatric disorder involving false beliefs that close relatives have been substituted by identical impostors.

In June, a judge ruled Penn mentally competent to stand trial despite his arrest history. Shin's restraining order request cited concerns for her safety and called for Penn to receive medical treatment or therapy. Penn is scheduled to return to court on August 28 to address ongoing legal matters stemming from the arrests.

Despite the legal challenges, Penn remains eligible to run for office. He is seeking the District 1 seat currently held by three-term incumbent Heather Kimball. The candidacy underscores the continuing complications in Penn's life following his retirement from mixed martial arts.