Overview: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Trump supporter, has been left disappointed after Trump endorsed his Republican rival Steve Hilton for the governorship of California. Despite Bianco’s loyalty to Trump, the former president gave Hilton his “COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT.” Bianco’s alignment with Trump’s extremist reputation and his opposition to COVID-19 safety measures have made him a controversial figure. However, the California primary is a “top-two” system, meaning that the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, will compete in the general election.
S. E. Williams
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco made his first, unsuccessful bid for sheriff in 2014. He never made it to the General Election that year because he was roundly, some might even say, embarrassingly defeated in the primary that June by more than 35 percentage points.
It probably wasn’t until Donald Trump rode the golden escalator in January 2015, was elected president in November 2016, and was sworn in as president for the first time in January 2017, that Bianco probably decided to hitch his wagon to what many thought at the time was a political rising star—Donald Trump. Trump’s star quickly traversed its arc however, and is now slowly, plainfully falling to earth.
When news of Bianco’s membership in the controversial Oath Keepers’ organization broke in January 2021, just subsequent to the failed attempt by Trump supporters to halt Congressional certification of the 2020 Presidential Election, more and more Bianco critics began to notice how closely Bianco’s philosophy was aligned with Trump’s.
At least four members of the Oath Keepers were eventually convicted of “seditious conspiracy and other charges” for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. However, in a highly criticized move when Trump took office again in January 2021, he granted immunity to all who participated in the seditious acts.
Beginning in 2020 and sweeping through 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic spread its funeral pall through Riverside County just as it did the rest of the state, nation and the world. It was also during this period that Bianco displayed his bizarre and reckless adherence to the philosophies of a mad man acting as president.
To this end, Bianco railed against the COVID-19 vaccines designed to protect lives; criticized the wearing of masks intended to avoid spreading the virus; refused to adhere to social distancing and other safety precautions in county jails until loved-ones of those held in his custody, nonprofits, social justice advocates and other members of the community forced him into court where a judge ordered that he immediately comply with CDC recommendations.
“The sole purpose of a crown is to make anyone not wearing one feel like an insignificant pauper. They’re obscene to the point of satire.”
Charlie Brooker
Trump continues to hold sway over Chad Bianco. Now in his second term as president, even as he drags the nation into an unnecessary and unwarranted war as part of his way-too-long chapter of Make-America-Great-Again reality (soon to be history) filled with inexplicable, unjustifiable, nationalistic, misogynistic, racist and yet historic horror stories, Bianco continued to sing his praises.
Trump has a well established reputation as an extremist, something that Bianco is apparently only too thrilled to be associated with. Since Trump resumed his role as president last January, Bianco has taken advantage of every media opportunity–particularly as it relates to right-wing media–to sing his praises of the Trumpster.
This weekend, however, Bianco learned the same hard lesson as other brown-nosing Trumpsters before him–Trump has no loyalty. Despite twisting himself into knots to prove he is Maga-loyal, Trump gave his endorsement for Governor of California to Bianco’s key Republican rival Steve Hilton. “Steve Hilton has my COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT,” Trump posted to social media over the weekend. “He will be a Great governor and, importantly, WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!” As many of you may know, Trump uses all caps in his social media posts as if he is yelling at his readers.
In response, the usually camera-loving Bianco chose to communicate his disappointment via social media rather than his once favorite MAGA-linked FOX News channel. Is it because his rival Hilton is also a Fox News darling and frequent contributor who now–as Trump’s pick–will get most of the Fox News air time? “For too long,” Bianco wrote, “politicians and insiders from Sacramento to Washington have tried to pick our leaders for us.” “That’s not leadership. That’s a coronation.”
Now, and I’m sure much to Bianco’s chagrin, Hilton—not Bianco— will be the Republican wearing Trump’s crooked crown into California’s June gubernatorial primary.
Whether Trump’s endorsement will really make a difference in California where the Democrats have a clear majority is unclear. However, a recent U.C. Berkeley poll shows Republican gubernatorial candidates leading the large field of candidates. The poll shows Hilton leading the candidates with 17%, followed by Bianco with 16%. Democrats Eric Swalwell and Katie Porter follow with 13% each.
California voters must pay attention and remember that Donald Trump and the Republicans are shrewd competitors. In the world of politics, often any media can be good media. In other words, even though Bianco did not get Trump’s endorsement, he certainly received a lot of media attention as did Hilton. Such attention is certain to enhance their name recognition around the state.
During a governor’s primary in California, name recognition can play a role in determining who makes it out of the June primary to compete in the November general election.
This is because California is one of only three states in the nation with a “top-two” primary system. In this system—often referred to as a Jungle Primary—all candidates for governor are listed on the ballot. The two candidates who finish the primary with the most votes, regardless of party, are advanced to the general election.
Some experts are questioning the goal of Trump’s endorsement. It may be more about finding a way to motivate MAGA-Republicans to the polls in hopes of ensuring the top two candidates left standing in November are both Republican, than it is about caring which one of them wins. I don’t think it matters to Trump which Republican wins. He just wants to do what he can to help ensure a true MAGA-Republican puppet becomes governor of the state of California–he doesn’t really care what his name is–Hilton or Bianco–as long as he can pull the strings.
Republican governors have historically been bad for people of color and other underserved and underrepresented communities in this state.
Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.