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California’s gubernatorial race has its first major Republican contender with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announcing his bid to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in 2026.
During his campaign launch in Riverside on Monday, Bianco spoke to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters about California’s decline under Democratic leadership. The 58-year-old sheriff presented himself as a law-and-order candidate, appearing in casual western attire complete with a holstered firearm.
“What is it that they have given us?” Bianco said of Democrats. “Rampant crime, higher taxes, the highest cost of living in our nation, tent encampments in every major city, more fentanyl deaths, catastrophic fires, a broken homeowners’ insurance market. … Californians deserve better.”
BREAKING 🚨: Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco officially announces he is running for California Governor for 2026.
He was joined today by state legislators like Leticia Castillo and Bill Essayli, and many grass root organizers, law enforcement, tribal leaders, and more. pic.twitter.com/R4rhKYUOFO
— Anthony (@AnthonyCabassa_) February 17, 2025
Bianco’s campaign launch took place in Riverside, a region where Trump secured a narrow victory in 2024. His supporters displayed signs with messages emphasizing California residency, reflecting the sheriff’s concern about population exodus.
“[I’m] tired of my friends leaving the state. I’m tired of watching my friends’ kids leave this state,” Bianco said, the Times reported.
Immigration reform features prominently in Bianco’s platform, with the sheriff pledging to dismantle SB 54, California’s sanctuary state law. “The best thing would be to completely abolish SB 54 and repeal it because it does absolutely nothing for public safety,” Bianco told Politico. “It does absolutely nothing for immigrant communities. The only thing SB 54 was designed for was to keep criminals from being deported.”
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced his run for California governor in 2026.
In 2020, during the BLM “protests,” Sheriff Bianco took a knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter activists.
Not sure if he's the guy to vote for. pic.twitter.com/dT3qLrp3xp
— Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) February 18, 2025
His track record includes opposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates for his department and backing Proposition 36, which strengthened penalties for theft and fentanyl distribution. Celebrating the proposition’s success, Bianco criticized Democratic leadership for attempting to block the measure.
The political landscape presents significant challenges for Republican candidates in California, where party registration shows Democrats holding a substantial advantage. Republicans constitute about 25% of registered voters, while Democrats account for nearly 46%, with 22% remaining unaffiliated. The last Republican to win the governorship was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who served from 2003 to 2011.
