Chad Bianco

Chad Bianco has faced several controversies and allegations during his tenure as Riverside County Sheriff and his 2026 gubernatorial campaign. In 2021, a data leak identified Bianco as a former member of the Oath Keepers, a group involved in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack; he confirmed he paid for a one-year membership in 2014 but did not renew it. In 2023, the California Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into his department regarding unconstitutional policing, excessive force, and conditions in county jails following a record 18 inmate deaths in 2022. He also faces ongoing lawsuits from families of deceased inmates. In 2025, Bianco was sued for $100 million by Vem Miller for defamation after Bianco publicly linked Miller’s arrest at a Donald Trump rally to a thwarted assassination attempt; the lawsuit was later dismissed. Additionally, a 2025 lawsuit alleging Bianco violated state law by campaigning in his official uniform was dismissed in December 2025 at the plaintiff's request. In 2026, Bianco initiated an investigation into alleged voter fraud, seizing over 650,000 ballots. The California Supreme Court halted the investigation and unsealed warrants, which revealed the case relied on claims from an activist group rather than independent evidence. State officials have criticized the move as a partisan political stunt. Furthermore, reports indicated Bianco’s campaign received $156,800 in donations from two linked companies, raising concerns about potential violations of California campaign finance laws regarding contribution limits. A county supervisor has requested an investigation into whether Bianco misused public resources for his gubernatorial campaign, a matter currently being reviewed by the county auditor-controller’s office.