Riverside Sheriff joins California governor’s race as first major Republican candidate
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco became the first well-known Republican to announce a bid for California governor to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026.
Bianco is an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump and has criticized Newsom and other Democrats leading California.
The sheriff of California’s fourth most populous county since 2018, Bianco earned praise from conservatives for refusing to enforce the state’s pandemic stay-at-home orders and, later, a vaccine mandate for law enforcement officers.
In 2021, he also came under scrutiny for his previous involvement with the Oath Keepers, a right-wing anti-government group.
During his campaign launch in Riverside Monday, Bianco again lambasted the state’s elected leaders as “completely out of touch” and said their “failed policies” have only led to higher costs.
“Californians want leadership that actually cares about the cost of living and leaders who will do something about it,” he said at a rally announcing his candidacy. “We want homes we can afford. We want air conditioning when it’s hot, not rolling blackouts.”
He spoke in support of Trump during the presidential candidate’s campaign rally in Coachella last fall, where Trump praised the sheriff and said he “liked him from the moment I met him.”
Bianco has long odds of victory — a Republican has not won a statewide election in California since 2006 — but he could split the vote and prevent two Democrats from advancing from the top-two primary.
He joins a crowded field of Democrats running for California governor, including Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Senate president Pro tem Toni Atkins, former Controller Betty Yee, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former resort mogul Stephen Cloobeck.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is also reportedly considering a run for governor, as are former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Ric Grenell, a Republican and former Trump appointee.
This story was originally published February 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
