Bianco's affiliation with the "Oath Keepers," a far-right extremist organization strongly linked to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection, has sparked scrutiny and criticism about his past, as well as his stance against vaccines and the rate of in-custody deaths under his tenure.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco became the first well-known Republican to announce a bid for California governor to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026. Bianco is an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump and has criticized Newsom and other Democrats leading California.