RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is officially entering the race for governor of California. The sheriff, who has led the county’s law enforcement for nearly six years, will formally announce his candidacy during a campaign event scheduled for Monday, February 19, 2025, at Avila’s Historic 1929 Event Center in Riverside. The announcement, which is set for 11:30 a.m., will also be livestreamed on Bianco’s official Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
The event comes after months of speculation regarding Bianco’s political future. The sheriff, who has garnered both praise and criticism for his tough-on-crime stance, is expected to be joined by family members and local elected officials at the campaign launch.
In a statement ahead of the announcement, Bianco’s campaign emphasized his concerns with California’s current public policies, framing his candidacy as a necessary response to the state’s ongoing issues. “Sheriff Bianco faces the reality of California’s failed public policies on a daily basis,” the statement read. “He has been a strong voice for reforming state law to ensure public safety, and most recently, he was a leader in advocating for Proposition 36, which passed with overwhelming support in November and aims to return common sense to criminal sentencing laws.”
Bianco’s background in law enforcement spans over three decades. He was first elected sheriff in 2018 after successfully unseating then-Sheriff Stan Sniff. His leadership has been backed by the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association, and during his tenure, Bianco has managed the department’s budget without deficit, often returning surplus funds to the county treasury. Despite increasing spending, the sheriff’s department has struggled with capacity issues, as two-thirds of the Benoit Detention Center in Indio remains inoperable due to staffing shortages.
As the highest-paid elected official in Riverside County, Bianco earned $593,518 in 2023, according to payroll data from the California State Controller’s Office. While his management of public safety finances has been generally praised, Bianco’s stance on several controversial issues has drawn both admiration and criticism.
The sheriff’s vocal support for former President Donald Trump, as well as his affiliation with the right-wing militia group, the “Oath Keepers,” has generated significant backlash from some quarters. Bianco’s comments regarding a potential assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign event in Coachella in October 2024 also raised eyebrows. Though federal investigators found no evidence to support his claims, Bianco later retracted his statement, acknowledging that the incident likely posed no threat to the former president.
Bianco’s criticism of Governor Gavin Newsom and his policies has also been a recurring theme. The sheriff has often described Newsom’s leadership as ineffective, especially regarding the state’s struggles with homelessness, drug addiction, and property crime. “California is starving for something different. Our options so far — we don’t have new options,” Bianco remarked in an interview two months ago.
Known for his strong opposition to COVID-19 restrictions, Bianco gained national attention in 2020 when he joined other sheriffs in publicly refusing to enforce mask mandates and curfews. His stance earned praise from civil libertarians but angered public health officials and some lawmakers, who viewed his actions as undermining the state’s response to the pandemic.
As Bianco officially launches his gubernatorial campaign, he is positioning himself as a candidate who will challenge the status quo in California. His tough-on-crime policies, opposition to state leadership, and strong voice for reform are expected to resonate with voters frustrated by the state’s current trajectory.
Bianco’s campaign is expected to continue emphasizing his record on law enforcement and public safety, with a particular focus on his advocacy for Proposition 36, which aimed to reform criminal sentencing laws in the state. As the race for governor heats up, Bianco will be looking to galvanize support from both law enforcement officials and voters disillusioned by the state’s ongoing challenges.
With his candidacy now officially launched, all eyes will be on the sheriff as he seeks to position himself as the alternative to the political establishment in Sacramento.