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Chad Bianco Republican

Running for Governor

Official statement

Self-written ballot statement from the CA Secretary of State voter guide.

Unusual phrasingAs Sheriff, I lead one of the largest law enforcement agencies in California.
Unusual phrasingI will demand real results for the billions spent on homelessness, and end the cycle of spending without accountability.
Read the full statement

My name is Chad Bianco. I'm a husband, a father, and the Sheriff of Riverside County. I didn't rise through politics. I rose through public service. As Sheriff, I lead one of the largest law enforcement agencies in California. We've reduced violent crime, stood up for victims, and supported the men and women who protect our communities. I've made hard decisions under pressure, in situations with real consequences. Leadership isn't about slogans. When common sense fails, regular people pay the price. California is at a turning point. Too many families are struggling just to get by. Moms and dads are working longer hours and still falling behind. Jobs are leaving, pushing our children to look elsewhere for opportunity. Buying a home feels out of reach. Gas, groceries, and utilities cost more every month. People are doing everything right and still getting squeezed. As Governor, I will bring accountability and common sense back to state government. I will cut through bureaucracy that keeps families from rebuilding after wildfires. I will demand real results for the billions spent on homelessness, and end the cycle of spending without accountability. We may not agree on everything, but we all want the same basics: safe neighborhoods, opportunity for our kids, and a fair shot at getting ahead. As a husband, a father, and a Sheriff, I know what responsibility means. I know what leadership is. I've seen the best and the worst, and I know we can do better. I'm asking for your vote.

Election history

Appears in 3 prior elections.

2026
Withdrew
See also: California gubernatorial election, 2026 California gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary) General election The primary will occur on June 2, 2026.
2022
Won
See also: Municipal elections in Riverside County, California (2022) Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator Incu…
2018
Won
vs Dave Brown

Where they stand

Issues their published 2026 campaign themes engage with. Click an issue to compare positions across candidates.

Supports Taxes & cost of living
…rue reform in our broken criminal justice system. We will restore and prioritize public safety in California. AFFORDABILITY Cut taxes on working families and businesses Stop the over-regulation of California’s economy to…
Mentions Climate & environment
…rnia’s economy to support job growth and business Unleash California’s energy resources to lower the price of gas and utilities Support California’s ever-changing technology sector to create good-paying jobs and open ave…
Mentions Public safety & criminal justice
…ommitted to restoring trust, protecting our communities, and creating opportunity for every Californian. From public safety to economic growth, his priorities put families first and focus on building a future where we ca…
Mentions Education
…tor to create good-paying jobs and open avenues to ensure California as the innovation capital of the country EDUCATION Learning First Students deserve a world-class education that works for them Teaching Workforce Help…
Full notes (markdown source)

Chad Bianco

Office sought: Governor
Party: Republican
Ballot designation: Riverside County sheriff

Prior offices and election history

2026

See also: California gubernatorial election, 2026 California gubernatorial election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary) General election The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary. Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for Governor of California The following candidates are running in the primary for Governor of California on June 2, 2026. Candidate Akinyemi Agbede (D) Mohammad Arif (D) Submit photo James Athans Jr. (R) Submit photo Larry D. Azevedo (D) Submit photo Naomi Bar-Lev (No party preference) Xavier Becerra (D) Chad Bianco (R) Carolina Buhler (D) Submit photo Joseph Cabrera (No party preference) Submit photo Elaine Culotti (No party preference) Submit photo Louis De Barraicua (D) Patricia De Luca Basualdo (R) Submit photo LivingForGod DeMott (No party preference) Submit photo Randeep Dhillon (R) Submit photo Sophia Edum-a-Sam (D) Serge Fiankan (No party preference) Submit photo Lukasz Filinski (No party preference) Max Fomin (No party preference) Derek Grasty (D) Don Grundmann (No party preference) Submit photo Jon Henderson (No party preference) Lewis Herms (No party preference) Submit photo Rafael Hernandez (R) Steve Hilton (R) Joel Jacob (D) Submit photo Dawit Kellel (No party preference) Submit photo Gary Kidgell (D) Anne Komarovsk (No party preference) Submit photo Alicia Lapp (R) Submit photo Matthew Levy (D) Submit photo Duane Loynes Jr. (No party preference) Matt Mahan (D) Amanda Martin (No party preference) Submit photo Brent Maupin (No party preference) Daniel Mercuri (No party preference) Submit photo Leo Naranjo IV (R) Tim Nelson (R) Mauro Alberto Orozco (No party preference) Thunder Parley (D) Katie Porter (D) Raji Rab (D) Submit photo Satish Rao (D) Ramsey Robinson (Peace and Freedom Party) Reza Safarnejad (No party preference) Submit photo Sam Sandak (No party preference) Christine Sarmiento (No party preference) Frederic Schultz (No party preference) Barack D. Obama Shaw (D) Submit photo Scott Shields (D) Submit photo Gretha Solórzano (R) Thomas Steyer (D) Eric Swalwell (D) (Unofficially withdrew) Tony Thurmond (D) Submit photo Margaret Trowe (No party preference) Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Tom Woodard (L) Betty Yee (D) (Unofficially withdrew) Nancy Young (No party preference) Leo Zacky (R) Submit photo Erin Zezulak (D) Submit photo David Zickefoose (R) Butch Ware (G) (Write-in) There are no incumbents in this race. = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Withdrawn or disqualified candidates Ché Ahn (R) Leonard Jackson (No party preference) Kyle Langford (R) Ebony Taylor (R) Toni Atkins (D) Sharifah Hardie (R) Eleni Kounalakis (D) Ethan Agarwal (D) Brandon Jones (R) Jesse Alberti (No party preference) Javen Allen (No party preference) Nicholas Thompson (L) George Slivka (D) Jon Slavet (R) Tony Fitzpatrick (No party preference) Ian Charles Calderon (D) Michael Younger (D)

2026 — Endorsements

Bianco received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here . U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R) U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R) Contra Costa County, Calif., Republican Party California Police Chiefs Association Peace Officers Research Association of California April’s Common Sense Cali Voters (Sway voting group by April Silverman (Cali MAGA Barbie)) CalMatters Voter Guide (Sway voting group by CalMatters) California Republican Assembly’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by California Republican Assembly) Christine Fontes Voter Guide (Sway voting group by Christine Fontes) Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of San Diego) Fullerton Observer’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Fullerton Observer) KQED Voter Guide (Sway voting group by KQED) Kathy’s Picks (Sway voting group by Kathy’s Picks) Liberty For All (Sway voting group by Mark Ragains) NRA Political Victory Fund’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by NRA Political Victory Fund) Reform California’s Voting Group (Sway voting group by Reform California) San Diego County Gun Owners’ Voting Group (Sway voting group by San Diego County Gun Owners) iVoterGuide California (Sway voting group by iVoterGuide)

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Riverside County, California (2022) Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator Incumbent Chad Bianco won election outright against Michael Lujan in the primary for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator on June 7, 2022. Candidate % Votes ✔ Chad Bianco (Nonpartisan) 60.7 210,335 Submit photo Michael Lujan (Nonpartisan) 39.3 136,100 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 346,435 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Municipal elections in Riverside County, California (2018) General election General election for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator Chad Bianco defeated incumbent Stan Sniff in the general election for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator on November 6, 2018. Candidate % Votes ✔ Chad Bianco (Nonpartisan) 58.3 323,671 Submit photo Stan Sniff (Nonpartisan) 41.7 231,650 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Source Total votes: 555,321 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. Nonpartisan primary election Nonpartisan primary for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator Chad Bianco and incumbent Stan Sniff defeated Dave Brown and Miguel Garcia IV in the primary for Riverside County Sheriff-Coronor-Public Administrator on June 5, 2018. Candidate % Votes ✔ Chad Bianco (Nonpartisan) 36.3 109,997 ✔ Submit photo Stan Sniff (Nonpartisan) 31.6 95,764 Submit photo Dave Brown (Nonpartisan) 19.5 59,200 Submit photo Miguel Garcia IV (Nonpartisan) 12.6 38,161 Incumbents are bolded and underlined . The results have been certified. Total votes: 303,122 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Issue positions (campaign themes)

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses See also: Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Chad Bianco has not yet completed Ballotpedia’s 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Chad Bianco asking him to fill out the survey . If you are Chad Bianco, click here to fill out Ballotpedia’s 2026 Candidate Connection survey . Who fills out Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey? Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate’s Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 28,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia’s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here . You can ask Chad Bianco to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing press@biancoforgovernor.com. Campaign website Bianco’s campaign website stated the following: A VISION FOR A BETTER CALIFORNIA PRIORITIES A Safer, Stronger California Starts Here Chad Bianco is committed to restoring trust, protecting our communities, and creating opportunity for every Californian. From public safety to economic growth, his priorities put families first and focus on building a future where we can all thrive. Discover the policies that will restore trust, safety, and opportunity for every Californian. PUBLIC SAFETY Put Safety First Fully support and resource law enforcement to protect communities. Enact Real Reform Restore accountability, strengthen penalties for repeat offenders, and combat organized retail crime. Defend Victims’ Rights Stand with victims, not criminals, and expand support services for those impacted by crime. PUTTING SAFETY FIRST With the overwhelming passage of Prop 36 and the ousting of radical, pro-criminal district attorneys in our major cities, voters have made it perfectly clear; they are tired of the soft-on-crime policies coming out of Sacramento. Protecting our people is the government’s number one responsibility, and that will always be my priority as governor. PUTTING SAFETY FIRST Ensure law enforcement has adequate staffing and resources to respond to rising crime. Defend law enforcement agencies against efforts to “defund the police” which only emboldens criminals and makes our communities less safe. Invest in recruitment, training and retention programs to ensure that law enforcement officers are best equipped to keep California safe. REAL REFORM REAL REFORM Strengthen penalties on repeat violent offenders – giving prosecutors the tools they need to keep dangerous criminals off our streets. Expand the work of the State’s Retail Crime Task Force to make sure people feel safe while they are supporting their local businesses. Build off the success of Prop 36 by continuing to restore penalties for serious crimes and ensure accountability for those who commit criminal acts. VICTIM’S RIGHTS VICTIM’S RIGHTS Side on the side of victims of crime, not those who commit crime. Bolster legal aid and mental health services for crime victims who will live with residual trauma for the rest of their lives. For years and years, career politicians in the State Legislature have made radical crime policy mainstream. A disturbing and twisted use of the word “reform” has pushed the progressive ideology that law enforcement and law abiding residents are somehow the bad guy, while criminals are somehow the victim. The result is rampant organized retail theft, property crime, and violent crime skyrocketing in recent years. With new leadership in the Governor’s Office, we can right this wrong, and enact real and true reform in our broken criminal justice system. We will restore and prioritize public safety in California. AFFORDABILITY Cut taxes on working families and businesses Stop the over-regulation of California’s economy to support job growth and business Unleash California’s energy resources to lower the price of gas and utilities Support California’s ever-changing technology sector to create good-paying jobs and open avenues to ensure California as the innovation capital of the country California is the most expensive state to live in America , which explains why from July 2020 and July 2023 we have lost 412,000 people to other states. It is no surprise given residents must deal with the highest income tax and most regulations of any other state. Decades of failed policies, over taxation, and regulations have are causing Californians to leave for greener pastures. After decades of decline and the status quo, it is time for a new leadership to lead us in a new direction. Under new leadership, our government can and will make California affordable again , bring down the cost of living for working families , and restore the potential of prosperity in every corner of our beautiful state. Californians Deserve to Keep More of their Hard-Earned Money Here’s how we’ll make it happen: Cut taxes on working families and businesses Stop the over-regulation of California’s economy to support job growth and business Unleash California’s energy resources to lower the price of gas and utilities Support California’s ever-changing technology sector to create good-paying jobs and open avenues to ensure California as the innovation capital of the country EDUCATION Learning First Students deserve a world-class education that works for them Teaching Workforce Help with the widespread teacher shortage School Safety Ensure every public-school campus has access to School Resource Officers and promote counseling and mental health programs Undo Harmful Regulations We have built a bureaucracy that is failing our children. We must do better. California’s school system is failing. Radical policies and social agendas from activists and bureaucrats have harmed our students. Our teachers and our students are left to suffer. California spends more on education than any other state, and yet we see some of the lowest metrics of success and student learning. Across the board, our stu

2022

Chad Bianco did not complete Ballotpedia’s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Enrichment source: Ballotpedia — https://ballotpedia.org/Chad_Bianco

Sources