Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has announced his candidacy for California governor, vowing to “return sanity” to the state while criticizing what he called “woke” policies and rising crime under current leadership.

“Californians deserve better,” Bianco said Monday at a campaign launch event in Riverside, which was also streamed on his personal Facebook page. “Traffic, fires, a broken homeowner’s insurance market, and people across our state are struggling to afford groceries and gas.”

Bianco, a Republican, joins a growing field of candidates vying for the governor’s office in 2026, including Democratic Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

In his speech, Bianco spoke of what he believes is California’s trajectory, attributing the state’s struggles to “destructive policies, political agendas, government overreaching regulations, radical activism and special interests.”

He promised a campaign focused on public safety, education reform and reducing the cost of living.

“I believe California is in desperate need of an honest, ethical, moral governor with integrity, whose only interest is to serve all of us,” Bianco said.

Bianco has been a controversial figure on the national stage. In 2024, he made headlines after posting a video on his Instagram account, while wearing his full sheriff’s uniform, endorsing Donald Trump for president following Trump’s conviction.

The video featured a satirical monologue casting doubt upon statistics related to crime, criminality and racial disparities in policing.

Bianco concluded the video by stating: “I think it’s time we put a felon in the White House. Trump 2024, baby. Let’s save this country and make America great again.”

During his announcement, Bianco cited public safety as a central concern, pointing to the passage of Proposition 36, which he described as a voter mandate to “make crime illegal again.”

He said the measure passed with support from more than 70% of California voters, including those in traditionally progressive counties like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“We sent them a message that we are tired of catch-and-release of criminals, tired of smash-and-grab robberies, and retail theft threatening our businesses and killing our family members,” Bianco said.

However, state crime data tells a more nuanced story.

According to the California Department of Justice, violent crime rose by 1.7% from 2022 to 2023, with aggravated assaults increasing by 4.6% and robberies by 2.9%.

But homicides decreased by 15.8% and rapes declined by 3.0%.

Property crime, meanwhile, fell by 0.8%, with burglaries dropping by 7.8% and arson cases plummeting by 31.7%.

Motor vehicle thefts were an outlier, rising by 7.5%.

Bianco’s tenure as sheriff has been marred by concerns over racial profiling and use of force.

The California Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory (RIPA) Board’s 2025 report found that Black residents in Riverside County were 1.8 times more likely to be stopped by sheriff’s deputies than white residents.

The report also highlighted a higher incidence of the use of force against Black individuals compared to white residents.

Inland Valley News (IVN) reached out to Bianco, a RIPA Board member, for comment about these findings shortly after the report was released but has yet to receive a response.

Bianco also took aim at Sacramento politicians, accusing them of pursuing self-serving agendas.

Bianco criticized California Attorney General Rob Bonta during his announcement speech, referring to “lies, intimidation, manipulation and emotion” from the attorney general, activist groups and the media.

“The same people responsible for the past 20 years of failed government are all once again in positions,” he said.

He dismissed their campaigns as being “about being the first of this or the first of that,” seemingly referencing the growing sentiment among prominent conservative figures that programs and ideologies dedicated to ensuring that marginalized groups aren’t discriminated against in various industries pave the way for unqualified individuals to enter those industries.

Bianco promised to address California’s affordability crisis by reducing taxes, curbing government regulations and improving infrastructure.

He also pledged to tackle homelessness by eliminating encampments and increasing mental health services.

“As Californians, we want leadership that actually cares about the cost of living and leadership that will do something about it,” Bianco said. “We want homes we can afford. We want air conditioning when it’s hot, not rolling blackouts.”

Bianco claimed that his campaign will not be about party politics.

“We will take our message of restoring sanity to every corner of our beautiful state,” Bianco said during his announcement. “This campaign will not be about the divide between Republicans and Democrats. It will be about the common goal we all have for a better California.”

The phrase “restore sanity” has been used frequently in recent political discourse, particularly by some conservative figures such as President Trump, to express opposition to progressive policies aimed at addressing the needs and protections of marginalized groups, including racial minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The California gubernatorial election is set for Nov. 3, 2026, with the top two candidates from the primary advancing to the general election regardless of party affiliation.