Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a vocal Republican candidate for California governor in 2026, has launched a fiery campaign to “expose” Governor Gavin Newsom, branding him a “liar and fraud” unfit for higher office. In an August 2025 interview with Real America’s Voice, Bianco criticized Newsom’s progressive policies, blaming them for California’s struggles with crime, homelessness, and high living costs. He pointed to Newsom’s opposition to Proposition 36, a 2024 ballot measure that stiffened penalties for theft and drug crimes, as evidence of soft-on-crime governance. Bianco, a Trump supporter, also joined a lawsuit against Newsom’s sanctuary state laws, arguing they violate federal immigration statutes and threaten public safety.
Bianco’s critiques resonate with conservatives but face skepticism in California’s Democratic stronghold. Newsom, defending his record, highlights a 30% drop in homicides and economic growth, dismissing Bianco’s attacks as political stunts. Critics of Bianco, including state Superintendent Tony Thurmond, question his credibility, citing his brief 2014 Oath Keepers membership and a civil rights probe into his department. Supporters, however, see Bianco as a law-and-order champion, pointing to his defiance of Newsom’s COVID-19 mandates and his push for water infrastructure and fire prevention.
As the 2026 gubernatorial race heats up, Bianco’s campaign aims to rally voters frustrated with California’s direction, but faces an uphill battle in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2003. The clash underscores deep divides over Newsom’s leadership and California’s future.
