Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican and Trump supporter, has announced his candidacy for California governor in the 2026 election to succeed the current Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. Bianco highlighted key issues such as the cost of living, affordable housing, energy reliability, water access, reducing government red tape, lower taxes, honesty, and transparency in government. He criticized the Democratic leadership in the state for implementing failed policies and ideas over the years.
Bianco, who has been critical of Newsom and other Democratic leaders on issues related to crime and punishment, was instrumental in the passing of Proposition 36, which mandates stiffer penalties and longer sentences for certain drug and theft crimes in California. He has been openly considering a gubernatorial run since last spring. The last time a Republican won statewide office in California was former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s re-election in 2006. Bianco emphasizes the need for new leadership in California to change the current trajectory of the state.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the last election, is speculated to be exploring a potential run for governor in California or seeking another bid for the presidency in 2028. The Democratic field for governor is already crowded, with candidates like Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Rep. Katie Porter, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra considering running. On the Republican side, former Fox News host Steve Hilton and Trump aide Richard Grenell are also potential candidates.
Grenell believes that Harris has significant baggage that could give a Republican candidate a real shot at winning the California governorship. Grenell previously considered running for governor in the 2021 recall election that Newsom easily won but decided against it. California’s primary system allows the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, to advance to the general election. With California being heavily Democratic, it has been challenging for Republicans to win statewide office, but Bianco’s entry into the race could provide a unique opportunity for the GOP.
Bianco’s campaign focuses on addressing key issues affecting Californians, such as the high cost of living, housing affordability, energy reliability, water access, government transparency, and overall governance. He believes that California needs new leadership to steer the state in a different direction and away from failed policies and ideas that have been in place for years. In a state where Democrats have been dominant for decades, Bianco’s tough-on-crime, conservative approach could resonate with voters looking for change and new solutions to the state’s challenges. It remains to be seen how his campaign will fare and whether he can break the Democratic stronghold on statewide offices in California.
