Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican and the leading candidate in California’s governor’s race, says he will move to repeal the state’s sanctuary law that restricts localities’ cooperation with ICE if he’s elected.
It’s a battle he says he can win.
“It has to be repealed,” the 30-year lawman said on the latest episode of “The Sitdown with Alex Swoyer,” a Washington Times podcast. “I think it’s going to be easy to repeal because the general public thinks it’s a horrible idea.”
However, repealing California’s new Democrat-dominated congressional map is likely a no-go, Sheriff Bianco said. The state will have to use it until after the 2030 census because it was approved last year in a voter referendum and the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed it to stand, he said.
“Legally, I don’t know if there is going to be a way around it. Now we are going to be stuck with it until 2030,” Sheriff Bianco said. “I think they successfully gerrymandered and rigged this system for the next four years, probably six years.”
In the wide-ranging interview, Sheriff Bianco also called California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is term-limited but has White House aspirations, “an absolute liar.”
SPECIAL COVERAGE: The Sitdown With Alex Swoyer
He said the rest of the country doesn’t see that.
“He is a pathological liar. He will do and say absolutely anything for Gavin Newsom,” the sheriff said. “We watch him across the country, the things he does in other states or says in other states on national media. And we all look at it like, OK, we live here. That’s not happening here.”
The Republican sheriff says his campaign is not about bringing Trump-style MAGA politicking to California.
“While I supported President Trump, I believe his policies are making America better and greater. I don’t think we’re not the same person,” Sheriff Bianco said.
He was elected sheriff of Riverside County — the fourth largest county in the state — in 2018 and again in 2022.
The New York Times poll tracker has him as the favorite to replace Mr. Newsom. Behind him by a percentage point is former Fox News host Steve Hilton, also a Republican. They are followed by two Democrats, Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter.
SEE ALSO: WATCH: GOP gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco on allowing ICE to do its job
California’s election system pits all gubernatorial candidates against each other in a blanket primary, regardless of party. The top two vote-getters face off in the general election.
The state is deep blue — President Trump won just 38% of the vote there in 2024 — but Sheriff Bianco says he sees signs of change.
“I don’t think this is going to be a Democrat and Republican election,” he said. “It’s going to be a referendum on a wrong direction and they are looking for someone to take them in a different direction and who better, especially in the times that we have, than an ethical lawman who has dedicated his life to making people’s lives better outside of politics to come in and fix things.”
He places crime as the top issue for the state, followed by the cost of living.
“We can lower taxes, we can lower regulation, we can lower the cost of living all we want. But if you’re not safe, you’re not going to want to live there,” he said.
On sanctuary cities, he said California’s SB 54 must go. The law, enacted in 2017, restricts the ability of state and local authorities to turn over deportation targets sought by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He said Minnesota’s sanctuary policies are at the root of the mayhem that has befallen that state, with anti-ICE protesters regularly clashing with federal officers.
“This is not about immigration. This is about our failed political system that we are now turning toward political violence as a way of getting our way,” Sheriff Bianco said. “This is only good for politicians to somehow use to get people to support them.”
• Stephen Dinan contributed to this report.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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