Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, whose bid for California governor was cut short in the June primary, will run for reelection in 2028, he confirmed to The Desert Sun, Tuesday, July 14.
“Governor election aside, I have always had every intention to run for reelection in 2028,” Bianco said in an email. “Under my leadership, the men and women of the Riverside Sheriff’s Office have transformed our agency from one near the brink of failure to one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the country.”
The news of Bianco’s intention to return as sheriff was first reported by the Press Enterprise, following an appearance at a a press conference for Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates, who is running for California Attorney General as a Republican.
During the press conference, Bianco, who is also a Republican, endorsed Gates, who he characterized as continuing many of the ideals he put forward during his failed run for governor earlier this year.
“One thing has been made clear over the past 18 months of our primary election, California government is broken and Californians are desperately looking for a change,” Bianco said during the press conference. “We will never have change if we continue to vote for the same politicians who have broken our beautiful state.”
Failed bid for California governor seat
This was Bianco’s first public appearance since coming in fourth place in the June 2 primary election for the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Bianco racked up 941,708 votes, or roughly 10% of the total, but fell short of the top three candidates, the Democrats Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer and the Republican Steve Hilton, who received between 22% and 28% of the vote each.
During the press conference, Bianco addressed his failed run for governor, saying he had “won without winning” by forcing other candidates to change their platforms to include positions that closely aligned with his own, like being tough on crime.
“The primary election was very clear,” he said, “we need change in California state government.”
Riverside County jail deaths scrutinized
Bianco was first elected sheriff, coroner and public administrator for Riverside County in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. While he has touted the success of the department under his leadership, issues like the safety of individuals incarcerated in Riverside jails have consistently dogged his tenure.
The Desert Sun has reported on the statistically high amount of deaths that have occurred in local jails, which caused a Riverside County Civil Grand Jury to call for independent oversight in a report released in June.
While Bianco called the grand jury’s report disappointing, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors have moved to reconsider installing an independent commission like the report recommended.
But in his response to questions from The Desert Sun about his intent to run again for sheriff, Bianco defended his work as the county’s top law enforcement officer.
“Because we are successful, we are constantly being attacked by anti-law enforcement activists, disingenuous politicians, and a completely biased print media, the Desert Sun being the worst,” he said. “I will fight for safer communities in Riverside County until voters decide they want a different direction. The people who voted me into this position deserve it.”
To date, no other candidates have announced their intention to run for sheriff.
Sam Morgen covers local government for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Riverside County Sheriff Bianco to seek reelection in 2028
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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By Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
