Chad Bianco has served as the sheriff of Riverside County since 2018, managing the department responsible for public safety services across 17 cities in the county and five jail facilities.
With a law enforcement career starting in the early 1990s, Bianco has openly criticized the Democratic leadership in Sacramento, asserting that the “defund the police” movement has rendered California unsafe.
He has garnered significant support among conservatives, being named Sheriff of the Year in 2023 by The Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank.
Who is Chad Bianco?
A native of Utah, Bianco relocated to California in the late 1980s.
Initially working with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, Bianco later moved to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Though he ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in 2014, he triumphed over the incumbent in 2018, securing the position. He was reelected for a second term in 2022.
What are Bianco’s proposals for California?
Public safety takes precedence in his campaign for the California governor’s race. With his background in law enforcement, Bianco advocates for adequate staffing and resources for every law enforcement agency in California, and emphasizes the importance of investing in training and retaining officers statewide.
He is a strong opponent of Proposition 47, which voters approved in 2014, declassifying shoplifting, petty theft, and personal drug possession as misdemeanors. After a rise in flash mob-style retail theft, California enacted Proposition 36 in 2024 to modify Prop 47 and enhance penalties.
The sheriff seeks to impose stricter penalties on repeat offenders and seeks to expand the state’s Retail Crime Task Force.
What does he say about immigration?
Bianco has vowed to repeal California’s sanctuary law, which restricts cities and counties from aiding Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials.
In an interview with NBC Los Angeles’ Political Reporter Conan Nolan, Bianco attributed ICE raids to the Democrats’ policies.
“We warned them. We told them that if you prevent sheriffs from working with ICE on criminals in our jails and refuse to turn them over, you’re forcing ICE into our communities, leading to unexpected encounters for the elderly and friends,” he stated.
While he maintains that local enforcement should not engage in immigration enforcement on California streets, he has committed to collaborating with the federal government to “stop illegal border crossings.”
Controversy surrounding Bianco
An ardent supporter of President Trump, Bianco faced disappointment when the Republican president endorsed his GOP rival Steve Hilton for California governor, prompting Bianco to voice his criticism on social media.
“For far too long, politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to choose our leaders for us,” Bianco remarked on April 6. “That’s not leadership. That’s a coronation.”
In April, Bianco faced a legal setback after the state Supreme Court ordered him to halt an alleged election fraud investigation. He had seized over half a million ballots for the 2025 election in March, following a complaint from a local citizens group regarding the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting.
