RIVERSIDE, California (AP) — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced Monday that he is running for governor of California in the 2026 election, becoming the first major Republican to declare his intention to run nearly two years before the election.
Bianco, an open supporter of former President Donald Trump and his policies, has been sheriff since 2018 and has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience. His candidacy adds to a growing list of contenders seeking to unseat current Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, while Republicans are still struggling to field a strong statewide candidate.
Criticism of Democratic policies
During his campaign announcement in downtown Riverside, Bianco sharply criticized Democratic officials, accusing them of worsening homelessness and affordable housing.
“Elected Democrats are solely responsible for California’s decline,” Bianco said. “What have they given us? Rising crime, higher taxes, the most expensive cost of living in the country, tent cities in every major city, rising fentanyl deaths, devastating wildfires, a housing insurance crisis, and people who can barely afford food and gas. Californians deserve better.”
Bianco, who positions himself as a conservative defender of order, emphasized that his campaign will not be based on party lines.
“Our goal is not a fight between Republicans and Democrats, but a shared desire for a better California. We will bring the message of restoring common sense to every corner of our beautiful state,” he said.
Possible competitors
Among the presumed Democratic candidates are former Los Angeles Mayor and Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, former State Senate President Toni Atkins, former state controller Betty Yee, and current Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
According to a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Vice President Kamala Harris could be the frontrunner if she decides to run, but she has not yet announced her plans.
Election context
Gavin Newsom’s term expires in 2027, so the 2026 election will be an open contest among Democrats. Experts predict that the race will attract the party’s leading political figures, as it involves leadership of the most populous state in the US and the fifth-largest economy in the world.
