San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto's endorsement of Chad Bianco—a vocal Trump supporter and Riverside County Sheriff running for California governor—has sent shockwaves through the city's Democratic establishment and raised uncomfortable questions about political loyalty in an era of heightened partisanship.
The endorsement, which Mission Local first reported Wednesday, places Miyamoto among three dozen California sheriffs backing Bianco's 2026 gubernatorial bid. But unlike his rural, conservative counterparts, Miyamoto represents a city where Trump received just 13% of the vote in 2024—making his support for a candidate who once declared "I think it's time we put a felon in the White House" particularly jarring.
When Professional Courtesy Meets Political Reality
Miyamoto, who describes himself as a "progressive Democrat," defended the endorsement as professional courtesy between fellow law enforcement officials. Speaking to KQED Friday, he emphasized their shared membership in the California State Sheriffs Association while distancing himself from Bianco's politics. "I don't support him in terms of political affiliation or political party," Miyamoto said. "This is coming from the fact that we're both sheriffs working together in a sheriffs' association."
Yet the political chasm between the two men runs far deeper than typical law enforcement disagreements. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Miyamoto admitted Thursday he "honestly doesn't know what [Bianco's] stance is on every issue"—a stunning admission given the candidates he's endorsing vehemently opposes policies Miyamoto has sworn to uphold.
A Study in Contradictions
The endorsement exposes fundamental contradictions that have Democratic insiders questioning Miyamoto's political judgment. While Miyamoto provided a sworn declaration supporting San Francisco's sanctuary city policies and protecting undocumented immigrants, Bianco has pledged to abolish California's sanctuary state law and work around existing protections to assist federal immigration enforcement.
The personal stakes for Miyamoto make this political disconnect even more puzzling. As the Chronicle noted, Miyamoto's father and grandparents were Japanese Americans sent to internment camps during World War II—the same type of mass detention policies that Trump has proposed for immigration enforcement. Yet Miyamoto is endorsing a candidate who has embraced Trump's deportation agenda.
Troubled Track Record
Bianco's record as Riverside County Sheriff raises additional concerns about Miyamoto's judgment. At least 19 people died in Riverside County detention facilities in 2022, prompting California Attorney General Rob Bonta to open a civil rights investigation into the department's "pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing," KQED reported. Bianco has dismissed the investigation as politically motivated, calling Bonta "an embarrassment to law enforcement."
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office has operated under a federal consent decree since 2016 due to jail conditions, and that oversight remains active today, KQED noted. When families of deceased inmates sued the county, Bianco reportedly responded by blaming the victims and their families on social media.
Democratic Party Pushback
The endorsement has sparked immediate criticism from Democratic leadership. David Campos, vice chair of the California Democratic Party and former president of the San Francisco Democratic Party, questioned "whether we have a closeted Trumper as sheriff of San Francisco." Campos told the Chronicle, "I don't see how anyone who is a Democrat can align themselves with Mr. Bianco and the MAGA movement."
Even Miyamoto's own deputies' union has shown mixed reactions. While Ken Lomba, president of the San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs' Association, described the sheriff as "a moderate" who was "probably being supportive of another sheriff," the union declined to endorse Miyamoto for reelection in 2024, citing his handling of department crises, The Voice of San Francisco reported.
Broader Political Trends
The endorsement comes amid shifting political winds in California, where Trump improved his performance by 12 points compared to 2020, though the state remains solidly Democratic, according to CalMatters. Some political observers see the sheriff endorsements as part of Bianco's strategy to present himself as having bipartisan law enforcement support, despite his hardline conservative positions.
California Globe reported that 38 of the state's 58 county sheriffs have backed Bianco, including Miyamoto and Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara as the only Bay Area representatives. The endorsements give Bianco's campaign ammunition to claim law enforcement support across party lines, even in liberal bastions like San Francisco.
Political Implications
For Miyamoto, who won reelection in November 2024 and serves until 2029, according to his campaign website, the controversy highlights the delicate balance sheriffs must strike between professional relationships and political accountability. His assertion that he's "not a MAGA person at all" may not satisfy critics who see the endorsement as providing political cover for a candidate fundamentally opposed to San Francisco values.
The timing also couldn't be worse for Democratic unity. With Kamala Harris announcing this week she won't run for governor, as KQED reported, Democrats are scrambling to consolidate support around alternative candidates. Miyamoto's cross-party endorsement creates an unwelcome distraction and raises questions about Democratic message discipline at a critical moment.
Local Impact
For San Francisco voters who elected Miyamoto partly based on his commitment to sanctuary policies and progressive values, the endorsement represents a potential betrayal of campaign promises. The sheriff's insistence that law enforcement transcends party politics rings hollow when his endorsed candidate has vowed to dismantle the very policies Miyamoto pledged to protect.
As one longtime Democratic activist in the city noted privately, "If you want to endorse Republicans, maybe you shouldn't run as a Democrat." The sentiment reflects broader frustration with elected officials who campaign on party platforms but then provide support to candidates with opposing ideologies.
