Chad Bianco
Chad Bianco is a commanding figure in California's law enforcement landscape, serving as the often-controversial Sheriff of Riverside County since 2019. Known for his outspoken conservative views and defiant stances against state mandates, Bianco has drawn both fervent support and significant scrutiny during his tenure. Now, he's setting his sights even higher, aiming to become California's next governor in a bid that promises to be as unconventional as his career so far. Chad Bianco ascended to the role of Riverside County Sheriff, where his tenure has been characterized by strong conservative policies and a challenging approach to state directives. His career has been marked by several significant controversies, including a past association with the Oath Keepers and a state investigation into the conditions within his department's jails. Bianco is now a prominent Republican contender for the 2026 California gubernatorial election, campaigning on a
AI Summary
Chad Bianco is a commanding figure in California's law enforcement landscape, serving as the often-controversial Sheriff of Riverside County since 2019. Known for his outspoken conservative views and defiant stances against state mandates, Bianco has drawn both fervent support and significant scrutiny during his tenure. Now, he's setting his sights even higher, aiming to become California's next governor in a bid that promises to be as unconventional as his career so far.
- Chad Bianco ascended to the role of Riverside County Sheriff, where his tenure has been characterized by strong conservative policies and a challenging approach to state directives.
- His career has been marked by several significant controversies, including a past association with the Oath Keepers and a state investigation into the conditions within his department's jails.
- Bianco is now a prominent Republican contender for the 2026 California gubernatorial election, campaigning on a
Meet Chad Bianco
Born on October 9, 1967, Chad Bianco has become a powerful and polarizing voice in California politics and law enforcement. He's currently the Sheriff of Riverside County and a dedicated member of the Republican Party. Beyond his current role, Bianco has announced his intention to run for Governor of California in 2026.
Early Life and Path to Law Enforcement
Bianco's journey began far from California's sun-drenched landscape — he was born at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Growing up, he had two younger brothers, shaping his early life away from the public eye.
In 1989, Bianco made the move from Utah to California, eventually pursuing a career in law enforcement. By 1993, he was attending the San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy, where he distinguished himself by graduating at the very top of his class. Soon after, he joined the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, where he would spend the bulk of his career.
Rising Through the Ranks
Bianco first sought the office of sheriff in 2014, but his initial attempt was unsuccessful. Undeterred, he continued to serve and build his platform, preparing for another bid.
His persistence paid off when he was first elected Riverside County Sheriff in 2018. He secured re-election in 2022 with a commanding 60% of the votes, setting his term to last until 2028 due to a state law aligning sheriff election years with presidential ones. As of 2023, his department was a vast operation, overseeing more than 3,600 employees and managing five jail facilities.
Controversies and Political Stances
One of the most significant controversies to emerge during Bianco's tenure involved a 2021 data breach impacting the Oath Keepers. This incident revealed Bianco as a former member, having paid for a $40 one-year membership in 2014, which he did not renew. He has since publicly disavowed the group's violent conduct.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bianco took a controversial stance, stating he would not enforce coronavirus mandates and had no plans to get vaccinated. Ironically, he tested positive for the virus in January 2021, experiencing mild symptoms and quarantining at home.
Under his leadership, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department has faced scrutiny over its performance in certain areas. Notably, it recorded the lowest closure rate for Part 1 property crimes in California, operating at less than 25% of the statewide average.
Bianco also faced a civil lawsuit from Democratic activist Stephen J. Cloobeck, who alleged that Bianco violated California Government Code 3206 by using his uniform and badge during campaign events and media interviews. The law explicitly states: "No officer or employee of a local agency shall participate in political activities of any kind while in uniform."
Perhaps the most serious challenges involved the county jails. In 2022, Riverside County jails reported 18 inmate deaths — the highest number in 15 years. This spike led to multiple civil lawsuits against the county's facilities and Bianco himself, though he maintained that "every single one of these inmate deaths was out of anyone's control."
The severity of these issues prompted the California Department of Justice to launch an investigation into Bianco's department in 2023. The inquiry aimed to determine if the organization had "engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing amid deeply concerning allegations relating to conditions of confinement in its jail facilities, excessive force, and other misconduct."
In 2025, Bianco's handling of an arrest near a Donald Trump rally sparked a $100 million federal lawsuit. Vem Miller, the arrested individual, alleged defamation and civil rights violations after Bianco claimed the arrest thwarted a potential assassination attempt. While the lawsuit was eventually dismissed, Miller was later ordered to complete a gun-safety course and community service.
Bianco himself became the target of threats in September 2025, when a college student was arrested for allegedly making online death threats against him. Describing the threats as "sickening," Bianco called for elected politicians to condemn political violence and "cool the temperature."
His stance on the Black Lives Matter movement also evolved. In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, Bianco was observed showing support and kneeling with protestors, even enduring a thrown screwdriver. However, by 2023, he had become a vocal critic, describing such protests as "destructive riots."
Despite the controversies, Bianco has garnered significant support from conservative circles. He's been a guest on Fox News, as well as various conservative YouTube channels and podcasts. In 2023, his efforts were recognized with the prestigious Sheriff Award from the conservative think tank, the Claremont Institute.
The Road to Sacramento?
On February 17, 2025, Chad Bianco officially announced his candidacy for Governor of California in the 2026 election, becoming the first major Republican to enter what promises to be a fiercely contested race.
Just days after his announcement, Bianco was already making political moves. On February 21, he joined Republican leaders in San Diego to promote State Senate Republican Minority Leader Brian Jones' proposed bill, SB554. This bill aims to weaken California Senate Bill 54 from 2017, which limits law enforcement's cooperation with ICE.
Bianco's Political Platform
Bianco consistently presents himself as a staunch "law and order" candidate, advocating for strict enforcement policies. He supported Proposition 36, signaling his alignment with efforts to address public safety and criminal justice reform.
On the critical issue of homelessness in California, Bianco has proposed a solution centered on expanding alcohol and drug treatment centers, believing this approach can significantly reduce the state's growing homeless population.
During the 2024 presidential election, Bianco openly endorsed Donald Trump. He did so in a notably "sarcastic" video, quipping, "It's time we put a felon in the White House," a pointed reference to Trump's felony conviction in May 2024.
Personal Life
Beyond his demanding public life, Chad Bianco resides with his wife, Denise, in Woodcrest, California. They are active members of Sandals Church in Riverside. Bianco is a family man, with children and grandchildren.
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Chad Bianco
Chad Bianco (born October 9, 1967) is an American law enforcement officer, who has served as sheriff of Riverside County, California, since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Bianco has been affiliated with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and Oath Keepers. He is a candidate for governor of California in the 2026 election.
Early life and education
Chad Bianco
Bianco was born on October 9, 1967, at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah. He has two younger brothers.
Bianco moved from Utah to California in 1989, and in 1993 attended the San Bernardino Sheriff's Academy. He graduated at the top of his class, and joined the Riverside County Sheriff's Department shortly after graduation.
Career
Chad Bianco
Bianco first ran for sheriff in 2014, but was unsuccessful.
Sheriff of Riverside County
Bianco was first elected Riverside County sheriff in 2018. He was re-elected in 2022 with about 60% of votes for a term set to last until 2028 due to a state law changing sheriff election years to match presidential ones. Bianco has been hosted on Fox News, as well as by conservative pastors on YouTube channels and podcasts. As of 2023, Bianco's department had over 3,600 employees and was managing five jails.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bianco stated that he would not enforce Coronavirus mandates and did not plan to get vaccinated. He tested positively for the virus in January 2021 with mild symptoms, after which he started quarantining at his home.
His department has the lowest closure rate for Part 1 property crimes in California, performing at less than 25% of the overall average. Democrat activist Stephen J. Cloobeck sued him for use of the uniform and badge during campaign events and media interviews, alleging a violation of California Government Code 3206. That law, addressing political activities of public employees, states: "No officer or employee of a local agency shall participate in political activities of any kind while in uniform.
In 2022, Riverside County jails registered 18 inmate deaths, the biggest number in 15 years. The spike prompted multiple civil lawsuits against the county's prison facilities and Bianco himself. In 2023, Bianco's department was placed under investigation by the California Department of Justice to determine if the organization had "engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing amid deeply concerning allegations relating to conditions of confinement in its jail facilities, excessive force, and other misconduct." In relation to those incidents, Bianco claimed that "every single one of these inmate deaths was out of anyone's control".
Bianco was awarded the 2023 Sheriff Award by the conservative think tank the Claremont Institute.
In 2025, Bianco's handling of the arrest of Vem Miller near a Donald Trump rally led to a $100 million federal lawsuit against him and Riverside County, with Miller alleging defamation and civil rights violations after Bianco claimed the arrest thwarted a potential assassination attempt. The lawsuit was later dismissed; Miller was ordered in January 2026 to complete a gun-safety course and 40 hours of community service by a county judge.
In September 2025, a female college student was arrested by California State University, San Marcos police, after allegedly making online death threats against Bianco. She posted bail one day after her arrest. Bianco described the threat as "sickening", and called on elected politicians to condemn political violence and "cool the temperature".
2026 gubernatorial campaign
Bianco announced his run for Governor of California in the 2026 California gubernatorial election on February 17, 2025, becoming the first major Republican to enter the race.
On February 21, Bianco attended a press conference in San Diego with Republican leaders to promote State Senate Republican Minority Leader Brian Jones' proposed bill SB554 to weaken the California Senate Bill 54 of 2017 that limits law enforcement's ability to cooperate with ICE.
Political positions
Chad Bianco
Bianco has portrayed himself as a law and order candidate, and supported Proposition 36. Bianco has proposed reducing homelessness in California by expanding alcohol and drug treatment centers.
In June 2020, Bianco oversaw police presence at a Black Lives Matter protest in Riverside. Here, Bianco showed support for and knelt with protestors, during the George Floyd protests; at the protest, he was hit with a thrown screwdriver. He later became critical of the movement, describing the protests as destructive riots in 2023.
During the 2024 presidential election, Bianco endorsed Donald Trump, stating in an allegedly sarcastic video that "It's time we put a felon in the White House", referring to Trump's felony conviction in May 2024.
Personal life
Chad Bianco
Bianco and his wife Denise live in Woodcrest, California; they attend Sandals Church in Riverside. He is married and has children and grandchildren.
Following a hacking incident in September 2021 against a database belonging to the Oath Keepers, Bianco, along with over 200 law-enforcement officers, was exposed as a former member of the organization. He later stated that he had paid for a $40 one-year membership in the organization in 2014 and did not renew it for the next year. Bianco has since disavowed the group's violent conduct.