Trump supporting California sheriff to launch GOP run for governor in race to succeed Newsom: sources

A tough-on-crime Republican sheriff successful southern California who was a protagonist of President Trump successful past year's predetermination volition motorboat a run for Golden State governor, a root acquainted confirms to Fox News.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is expected to denote his candidacy astatine a scheduled lawsuit Monday successful Riverside, California, astir 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, successful the 2026 contention to win term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Bianco, a vocal professional of Newsom and different authorities Democratic leaders erstwhile it comes to the issues of transgression and punishment, was 1 of the leaders who helped propulsion California's Proposition 36 ballot measurement to a landslide triumph successful past November's elections.

WHAT SHERIFF CHAD BIANCO TOLD FOX NEWS

The measure, which took effect successful December, mandates stiffer penalties and longer sentences successful California for definite cause and theft crimes.

MAJOR CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT PREEDICTS FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WOULD CLEAR GUBERNATORIAL FIELD

Bianco, who has worked successful instrumentality enforcement for much than 3 decades, was archetypal elected sheriff successful 2018. He's been openly flirting with a 2026 gubernatorial tally since astatine slightest past spring.

When asked precocious past twelvemonth successful a Fox News interrogation if helium knew of anyone who mightiness beryllium susceptible of producing alteration successful Sacramento – California's superior metropolis – Bianco responded, "I might, I mightiness cognize idiosyncratic that would spell determination with thing but communal consciousness and the betterment of the citizens of California alternatively than immoderate brainsick ideological docket that genuinely makes perfectly nary consciousness to immoderate of us."

It's been astir 2 decades since a Republican won statewide bureau successful heavy bluish California. You person to spell each the mode backmost to erstwhile Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election victory.

There has been plentifulness of speculation since erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris' predetermination decision past November to Trump regarding her adjacent governmental move, with the 2 imaginable options apt being launching a 2026 gubernatorial tally successful her location authorities of California oregon seeking the presidency again successful 2028.

Harris served arsenic San Francisco territory lawyer and California lawyer wide and U.S. legislator earlier becoming vice president.

Sources successful the erstwhile vice president's governmental orbit accidental nary decisions person been made astir immoderate adjacent steps.

The Democrats' tract for politician successful the heavy blue-leaning authorities is already crowded.

Among the much than half-dozen candidates already running for governor are Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, a Harris ally, and erstwhile Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Former Rep. Katie Porter, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic Senate information past year, has expressed involvement successful launching a campaign.

Additionally, erstwhile Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who served successful Congress and arsenic California lawyer wide earlier joining the Biden administration, is besides seen arsenic a imaginable contender.

Former Fox News Channel big and blimpish commentator Steve Hilton is considering a Republican tally for California governor.

In California, dissimilar astir different states, the apical 2 finishers successful a primary, careless of enactment affiliation, beforehand to the wide election.