Polling Average
20%15%10%5%0%
12.7%
16.0%
11.9%
11.7%
11.1%
8.6%
Republican
Chad Bianco
California Governor primary: 1st place
$396.3K
JUN 2, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleSheriff
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age58 years old (Oct 9, 1967)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationCalifornia
BackgroundLaw enforcement officer
Notable personal detailsChad Bianco is an American law enforcement officer who has served as Sheriff, Coroner, and Public Administrator of Riverside County, California since 2019, after winning election in 2018 and reelection in 2022. He is a longtime veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and oversees county jail, patrol, court services, and coroner functions. He is a Republican and a candidate for governor of California in the 2026 election cycle.
SourcesShowHide
riversidesheriff.orgbiancoforgovernor.comen.wikipedia.orges.wikipedia.orgmakecaliforniagoldagain.comapnews.complumassun.orgpatch.comnationaltoday.comthedailybeast.comcjcj.orgtheguardian.comelpais.cominlandvalleynews.comaol.comcbsnews.comhsjchronicle.comreddit.comsandiegopost.comagnetwest.combreitbart.comcvindependent.comiheart.comlatimes.comcalonews.comcaliforniafamily.orgpeoplefor.orgfoxla.comcrpa.orgpolitico.compresidentialdaily.orgx.comlinkedin.comau.linkedin.comtwitter.comballotready.orgwikidata.orgtakano.house.govvotesmart.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgncsl.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcalvert.house.govgovinfo.govcongress.govcdn.ballotpedia.orgfec.govnga.orgpadilla.senate.govsenate.gov
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.
Show moreShow less
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 updatedMay 20, 2026
Chad Bianco is staying in the 2026 California governor’s race despite pressure from Republicans to drop out and help consolidate support behind Steve Hilton. Recent polling has Bianco trailing the leading candidates, with surveys putting him around 11% to 14% while Xavier Becerra and Hilton have been ahead or tied near the top. He also drew attention in recent debates, where he was pressed on his past remarks about Hilton and on his past affiliation with the Oath Keepers. The race remains crowded ahead of the June 2 top-two primary, and Bianco is still trying to break into the runoff field.
riversidesheriff.org+50
Articles
NYNew York Post13 hours ago
Chad Bianco defies calls to exit California governor’s race
Neutral
NYNew York Post14 hours ago
After giving Chad Bianco a chance, I voted for Steve Hilton
Negative
BNBaltimore News7 days ago
Former HHS Secretary Becerra holds slight lead in California gubernatorial race
Neutral
LALos Angeles Times13 days ago
'Cálmate, Antonio': The most fiery moments from the governor's debate
Neutral
Polls
California Governor primary: 1st place
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
California Governor primary: 1st place
Endorsers of Chad Bianco for California Governor primary: 1st place
California Republican Assembly
Elected official
California Republican Assembly endorsed Chad Bianco for governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising