Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco officially launched his campaign for California governor today. He presents himself as a conservative candidate focused on law and order. However, his record includes positions and actions that are likely to rankle supporters of President Donald J. Trump.
OPPOSING TRUMP’S DEPORTATIONS.
Bianco, who has served as sheriff since 2019, has paid lip service in opposition to California’s sanctuary state policies. In a 2023 Fox 11 interview, he stated that he would work around Senate Bill 54, which stymies law enforcement from engaging in deportations. However, on February 7, 2025, Bianco released a video addressing concerns about immigration enforcement, in which he stated that his deputies “have not, are not and will not engage in any type of immigration enforcement.”
He claimed this responsibility lies solely with federal authorities, and criticized what he described as “misinformation” regarding his department’s role in such operations. This statement came as agencies directed by President Trump reported a sharp rise in arrests in California.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
On June 1, 2020, at the height of nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, Bianco joined demonstrators in Riverside and kneeled in an act of solidarity. During the protest, he stated, “This is a huge divide, and the leaders of this have to work with us to make a difference. And if this is what starts it, then this is what starts it.” Later that evening, after a curfew was enacted at 6 PM, incidents of looting and property damage occurred in downtown Riverside, prompting law enforcement to declare an unlawful assembly. Businesses in the area sustained damage, and police dispersed a remaining group of demonstrators using crowd control measures. […]
— Read More: thenationalpulse.com
