Chad Bianco

Johnny Chad Bianco (born October 9, 1967) He has two younger brothers. In 2014, Bianco first ran for sheriff, but was unsuccessful.

Sheriff of Riverside County In 2018, Bianco ran again, and was successfully elected Riverside County sheriff. 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.

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. Democratic 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". 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 college student at California State University, San Marcos was arrested by university 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".

On July 14, 2026, Bianco announced his intention to seek a third term as Sheriff of Riverside County which would expire in 2034, should Bianco be re-elected

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.

In April 2026, Bianco ordered the seizure of ballots from California's 2025 election, citing concerns about election integrity, a focus of his political campaign. A Riverside County judge and the California Supreme Court subsequently ordered the search warrants authorizing the seizure to be unsealed. The affidavits revealed that their case rested solely on claims from a citizens' activist group; the group was overseen by Shasta County's Registrar of Voters. He ultimately failed to advance to the November runoff. Political positions 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 2018, Bianco walked in a Palm Springs Pride Parade. 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 a 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

Bianco and his wife Denise live in Woodcrest, California;

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, although he maintained that he is "proud" to be an Oath Keeper during a 2026 gubernatorial debate.

Electoral history 2014

2018

2022

2026