Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco on Monday, Feb. 17, kicked off his gubernatorial bid before hundreds of cheering supporters in downtown Riverside. The Republican hopes to defy the odds and become California’s first GOP governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003.

None of California’s governors came from Riverside County. Most holding the state’s highest elected office hailed from Los Angeles or San Francisco, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who served as San Francisco’s mayor and California lieutenant governor before winning his current job in 2018.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco officially announced Monday, Feb. 17, that he’ll run for governor in 2026, hoping a campaign centered on fighting crime and targeting Sacramento’s Democratic leadership can overcome questions about his background and recent challenges for Republicans seeking statewide office.