New reporting indicates that Republican Chad Bianco, who currently serves as the Riverside County Sheriff, and Steve Hilton are leading California’s 2026 gubernatorial primary field. Bianco sits at 18%, Hilton at 17%, ahead of Democrats Katie Porter (14%), Eric Swalwell (11%), Tom Steyer (8%), and Xavier Becerra (6%).
Many have wondered if this trend signals voter dissatisfaction with Democratic policies. Bianco framed it as a “referendum” rejecting Newsom’s “anti-ICE, anti-business, anti-female, anti-gun” agenda, pushing to end state income tax and reduce burdens from special interests. His priorities include tax cuts, deregulation, energy unleashing, border security, and ending sanctuary policies.
Starting off the flurry of social media reactions, one user posted, “BREAKING PER POLITICO: A REPUBLICAN Chad Bianco leads California’s gubernatorial race.🟥 Chad Bianco – 18% 🟥 Steve Hilton – 17% 🟦 Katie Porter – 14% 🟦 Eric Swalwell – 11% 🟦 Tom Steyer – 8% 🟦 Xavier Becerra – 6% 🟦 Matt Mahan – 5%”
Responding, Bianco stated, “This is a referendum. This is California rejecting the anti-ICE, anti-business, anti-female, anti-gun policies of Gavin Newsom.” Likewise, another poster on X stated, “All you need to know about how psychotic leftists are at heart. Katie Porter is the rank and file Dem’s choice.” Porter, for reference, is the candidate who has become infamous for her absolutely horrid treatment of her staff, and for the fact that, naturally, her staff members utterly despise her.
Excited by the news, one local conservative reacted, “California NEEDS Chad Bianco as governor. My home state has so much beautiful potential, but it’s become Lawless and the people in power have betrayed their constituents. Sheriff Chad Bianco will bring back accountability!”
Another conservative, elated by the news that a law and order candidate might be finally electable in California, stated, “It’s time to bring law enforcement back to California! Sheriff Bianco is the man we need! I fully endorse him to be the next governor of California! We have a lot of cleaning up to do.”
Reacting to a woke post by one of his opponents, Eric Swalwell, Bianco quipped, “This man is a disgrace. He couldn’t last a day serving in law enforcement. An armchair quarterback looking for clicks. California deserves a governor that stands with our law enforcement rather than threatening them.” Slamming Swalwell in another post, he declared, “Eric Swalwell will never be governor of California. Heck, we’re not sure if he ever plans to be a resident of California.”
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Turning his attention to the current governor of California, he noted, “Gavin Newsom spends every day wishing he could be Trump. He doesn’t hate Trump. He wishes he had the same respect, the same success. Unlike Trump, Gavin Newsom will never be president.”
Opining on recent events in Minnesota, the California Republican currently leading the polls, stated, “Celebrities and talking heads think they understand what it’s like to put on a uniform and make life or death decisions. They’ll hopefully never stare down the barrel of a gun. They’ll hopefully never worry about ending a war or calming chaos,” adding, “Be thankful for those who do.”
Watch Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent torch Gavin Newsom here: