Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, now a Republican candidate in California’s 2026 gubernatorial race, is sharply criticizing Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of advancing policies that jeopardize public safety and endanger police officers. Speaking on Newsmax’s Sunday Report, Bianco argued that California’s Democratic leadership has created an environment that protects criminals while undermining those tasked with enforcing the law.

Bianco’s comments came in response to efforts by Democratic legislators to reveal the identities of ICE agents involved in recent arrests. He warned that exposing the names of federal officers would place both them and their families in harm’s way. According to Bianco, Democrats had previously fought to keep suspects anonymous, yet now sought to unmask law enforcement, a shift he described as dangerous and politically motivated.

“It’s extremely dangerous,” Bianco said, emphasizing that officer privacy is a critical safety measure. He argued that Democrats want officers exposed so activists can more easily target them outside their workplaces. “The problem that they’re having is they can’t identify them to terrorize them at their homes and their kids at school,” he claimed. “And that’s what the Democrat Party wants.”

Bianco insisted that shielding officer identities is essential during volatile situations, particularly during protests and enforcement operations. Whether at the local or federal level, he said, anonymity helps prevent officers from becoming targets of harassment or violence.

He also pointed to a recent deadly vehicle crash involving a 21-year-old undocumented immigrant from India as further evidence of what he described as California’s misguided approach to immigration and criminal justice. Bianco argued the incident highlighted the consequences of policies that limit how police can interact with individuals in the country illegally.

“This is just another example of the love affair that Democrats have with criminals, particularly in this state,” he said. Bianco has long opposed California’s sanctuary laws, which he claims restrict law enforcement from verifying immigration status and reduce the ability of agencies to cooperate with federal authorities. “They have made us a sanctuary state where we cannot even try and identify anyone that’s here illegally,” he said, adding that the state’s driver’s license policies make it easy for undocumented residents to obtain legal identification using inaccurate or incomplete information.

Bianco said these problems will persist unless voters demand change. “This will continue until good people, until good Americans stand up and say, enough is enough,” he said.

The sheriff also commented on former President Donald Trump’s stated intention to send National Guard troops into San Francisco to restore public order. Bianco argued that Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has failed his core responsibility to protect Californians. “The number one role of government is to protect its citizens,” he said. “And Gavin Newsom has proven for decades that he has no interest in protecting California.”

Bianco painted a grim picture of San Francisco’s ongoing struggles with crime, homelessness, and economic decline. He pointed to businesses fleeing the city, residents relocating, and widespread property damage. “When you park your car on the street and you roll down your windows so people won’t break your windows to get into your car, you know there is something seriously wrong,” he said. “And the governor knows it.”

According to Bianco, these issues did not begin with Newsom’s governorship but date back to his years as San Francisco mayor. He accused the governor of expanding permissive policies statewide, contributing to what he sees as a culture of lawlessness.

Bianco said residents in cities like San Francisco and Oakland are now desperate for help from any level of law enforcement—even requesting federal intervention. He claimed public frustration is growing as Newsom tries to maintain support from his political base. “We just see over and over this complete fraud of a governor, Gavin Newsom, trying to appease his base,” Bianco said. “And we’re the victims.”

Meanwhile, the race for California’s governorship is beginning to take shape. A new Emerson College poll, conducted October 20–21 among 900 likely voters, shows Republican Steve Hilton narrowly leading the field with 16 percent support. Democratic candidate Katie Porter follows with 15 percent, while Bianco sits in third place at 11 percent.

Hilton said the poll reflects a growing desire among Californians for political change and a shift away from one-party governance. Porter’s campaign, however, emphasized her experience and resilience, calling her “the battle-tested fighter that Californians want as their next governor.”