Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has formally thrown his hat into the ring for California's gubernatorial race, with an announcement made at a Riverside event venue on Monday, according to KTLA. The event was not only attended by supporters and elected officials but was also accessible via livestream, enabling a broader audience to witness Bianco's latest political move.

Bianco, a staunch conservative with a history of supporting former President Trump, has often been vocal about his stance on various state policies. The sheriff's campaign statement highlighted that he "has been a strong voice for reforming state law to once again ensure public safety across California," as stated by ABC7. This statement comes despite past controversy over allegations of support for extremist groups and Bianco's history of opposing public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, a position that seemed to resonate with certain demographics.

Having been re-elected as sheriff in 2022, Bianco has been a law enforcement professional for over three decades. During his tenure, he has dealt with a growing sheriff department budget, though he also faced the operational challenges of an understaffed detention center in Indio. Notably, his tenure has seen him weather the financial storm well enough to return some funds to the county's treasury each fiscal year, a detail not missed by financial watchdogs, as per ABC7.

Positioned as a "tough-on-crime" candidate, Bianco gained notoriety for his advocacy of Proposition 36, which called for stricter penalties for certain retail theft and drug-related crimes. His platform comes at a time when many constituents feel bedeviled by issues related to crime and public safety. "California is starving for something different," Bianco told ABC7.