California sheriff and Trump supporter launches GOP bid to succeed Gov. Newsom
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and a tough-on-crime Republican, has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the 2026 California gubernatorial race. Bianco announced his candidacy at an event in Riverside, California, where he emphasized the need for leadership that cares about the cost of living and addresses critical issues facing the state.
In his address, Bianco highlighted the desire for affordable housing, reliable access to amenities like air conditioning and water, and the opportunity to achieve the California Dream without bureaucratic obstacles. He called for transparency from elected officials, lower taxes, and reduced government waste, advocating for sanity and common sense to prevail in state governance.
A vocal critic of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state leaders on crime and punishment issues, Bianco was instrumental in the success of Proposition 36 in the last election, which introduced stricter penalties for certain drug and theft crimes. He condemned the current state of California, asserting that the state has been heading down the wrong track for years under Democratic leadership.
With over three decades of experience in law enforcement, Bianco has served as Riverside County Sheriff since 2018 and has been exploring a gubernatorial run since last spring. The last time a Republican won a statewide office in California was in 2006, with former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election victory.
As the Democratic field for governor continues to grow, with candidates like Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in the mix, speculation surrounds former Vice President Kamala Harris’s potential entry into the race. Harris, a California native, has not confirmed her next political move, leaving the door open for other contenders like Bianco to seize the opportunity.
Among the potential Republican candidates, former Trump aide Richard Grenell has hinted at a run if Harris enters the race. Grenell, a loyalist to the former president, believes that Harris’s perceived weaknesses could create a path to victory for a Republican candidate in the traditionally blue state.
With a crowded field and the prospect of a competitive race ahead, California voters will have a diverse range of candidates to choose from in the 2026 gubernatorial election. Bianco’s entry into the race adds a new dimension to the political landscape, offering a tough-on-crime, pro-Trump perspective to the mix of contenders vying for the state’s top office.
