Politics & Government
RivCo Sheriff, Who's Running For CA Governor, Asks For Financial Help To Pay His Lawyers: Report
Republican Chad Bianco has launched a campaign to help pay for his legal fees. Here's why.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco is asking his supporters help him cover his legal defense fees in his campaign for California governor next year, The Press-Enterprise reported.
Bianco has raised at least $1.6 million for his 2026 campaign. But he is asking for more to help pay his lawyers.
In a recent poll, Bianco was leading over Democratic frontrunner Katie Porter.
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READ MORE: RivCo Sheriff Pulls Ahead In Crowded Governor's Race, New Poll Says
The Press-Enterprise shared a link to campaign finance records that appear to have been removed from online.
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In a response to questions from The Press-Enterprise about the fund, Bianco wrote in an email: "This is your typical biased, selective reporting.”
He added that "this is common to most all campaigns."
Patch has reached out to Bianco's campaign for comment.
In September, Democratic gubernatorial opponent Stephen J. Cloobeck sued the sheriff, accusing him of breaking the law by wearing his official sheriff's uniform at campaign events. According to state law (Government Code Section 3206), public officials and employees of local agencies are prohibited from wearing their uniforms while engaged in political activities.
According to previous Press-Enterprise reporting, Bianco addressed his choice of outfit in a TV interview.
“I’m an elected official,” he said, according to the newspaper. “And with that, in my personal pages, I can do anything that I want. There is only one sheriff’s uniform, and that’s mine.”
Las Vegas man Vem Miller is also suing Bianco over his statements that he believed Miller attempted "third assassination attempt" on President Donald Trump during a campaign rally for then-candidate Trump in Coachella.
"I keep releasing evidence to show that this sheriff is a complete liar, and his deputy is a complete liar, and it's very sad what has happened here," Miller previously told said at a Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting. "On the surface, we're both supposed to be constitutional Republicans, but once you dig further, you realize this is not the intention or actions of this sheriff."
READ MORE: Earful About 'Power-Hungry' Sheriff Bianco During RivCo Supes Meeting
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