Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
12.5%
17.1%
13.2%
11.3%
11.1%
10.6%
5.1%
Republican
Chad Bianco
California Governor primary: 1st place
$9.6M
JUN 2, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSheriff
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationCalifornia
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BackgroundLaw enforcement officer
Notable personal detailsChad Bianco is an American law enforcement officer who has served as Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator of Riverside County, California, since 2019. He was elected in 2018 and re-elected in June 2022. Bianco is married to Denise Bianco and has four adult children.
SourcesShowHide
riversidesheriff.orgen.wikipedia.orgkeyt.comapnews.comlatimes.comes.wikipedia.orgnbclosangeles.comturncali.comtransparencyusa.orgkpbs.organybody.comcabaynews.comcjcj.orgukenreport.comthedailybeast.comelections.cdn.sos.ca.govcsm.ca.govcongress.govscam-detector.comwikidata.orgbiancoforgovernor.comsandiegopost.comagnetwest.combreitbart.comcvindependent.comiheart.comhsjchronicle.comcalonews.comcaliforniafamily.orgaol.compeoplefor.orgfoxla.comcrpa.orgpolitico.compresidentialdaily.orgreddit.comkqed.orgkrcrtv.comcalmatters.orgfresnobee.comabc7.comkcra.compro.stateaffairs.compressenterprise.comabc7news.comsacbee.comwashingtonpost.comeltecolote.orgcaliforniaglobe.comthetimes.comnytimes.cominstagram.comballotpedia.orgyoutube.comballotready.orgnga.orgfec.govdurbin.senate.govpadilla.senate.govtakano.house.govjustfacts.votesmart.orghistory.house.govjudiciary.senate.govdocquery.fec.govhsgac.senate.govgallego.senate.govwhitehouse.senate.governst.senate.govnass.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate supports major tax cuts including abolishing California’s state income tax and cutting taxes for working families and businesses, and favors reducing regulation on the economy to promote job growth and lower energy costs.
Healthcare
Supports limiting public provision of healthcare to undocumented immigrants and emphasizes personal choice over government vaccine mandates; favors using treatment and mental-health responses for homelessness but frames these as targeted interventions rather than expansion of universal coverage. Positions emphasize reducing government-imposed public-health requirements and restoring market/individual decision-making in health matters.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate calls for securing the border, ending sanctuary policies, prioritizing deportation of violent criminals, and combating drug and human trafficking, while also supporting guest worker programs and a federal path to citizenship for law‑abiding residents. Public statements and actions also show enforcement-focused measures (opposition to California sanctuary policies and cooperation with federal removal of criminal noncitizens) alongside limited pathways for lawful workers.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate opposes policies expanding abortion access and has publicly criticized abortion-rights protests and legislation he described as allowing infanticide, framing such measures as unacceptable. His public remarks emphasize Christian values and law enforcement responses in the context of abortion-related events.
Climate & Energy
Supports market-driven energy solutions and grid modernization, prioritizes keeping Diablo Canyon nuclear plant operational, and emphasizes lowering energy costs and holding regulators accountable. Has criticized state renewable policies such as installing solar on productive farmland and questioned links between climate change and California wildfires. Focuses on protecting agriculture and preferring energy options like nuclear, hydrogen, geothermal, and hydro over aggressive regulatory approaches to emissions.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strong Second Amendment rights and opposes new firearm restrictions while defending law enforcement funding and tougher criminal penalties. Criticizes recent California gun-control proposals as anti–gun ownership and frames his public-safety agenda around resourcing police and prioritizing victims over criminals.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Chad Bianco is in the news because he is running in California’s crowded 2026 governor’s race and competing for one of the top-two spots in the state’s primary. Early and partial results showed him trailing the leaders, with Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra ahead and Bianco around 10% to 11% of the vote. The race remained too close to call for a while, but later reporting suggested Bianco was unlikely to advance as Republican voters consolidated behind Hilton.
riversidesheriff.org+68
Articles
NYNew York Post24 days ago
California primary system forced GOP to get strategic
Neutral
NNNBC News1 month ago
Several primaries remain uncalled and Ukraine attacks Putin’s hometown: Morning Rundown
Neutral
NNNBC News1 month ago
Live updates: Candidates advance to midterm battles in California, Iowa, N.J. and 3 other states
Neutral
UTUSA TODAY1 month ago
Hilton, Becerra lead California governor's race: takeaways
Negative
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
California Governor primary: 1st place
Endorsers of Chad Bianco for California Governor primary: 1st place
Sacramento County Republican Party
Elected official
Sacramento County Republican Party endorsed Chad Bianco for California governor.
Shasta County Republican Committee
Elected official
Shasta County Republican Committee endorsed Chad Bianco for governor.
California Republican Assembly
Elected official
California Republican Assembly endorsed Chad Bianco for California governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising