Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican candidate for governor of California in 2026, is sharply criticizing Democratic lawmakers for what he says are reckless policies that endanger law enforcement officers and put the public at risk.

In a recent appearance on Newsmax’s Sunday Report, Bianco accused Democrats of prioritizing criminals over the safety of police officers — particularly in their push to publicly identify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents involved in recent enforcement actions.

“It’s extremely dangerous,” Bianco said, reacting to efforts by Democrats and activists to unmask ICE officers. “They know exactly what they’re doing, and they don’t care about the consequences.”

Accusations of Double Standards

Bianco pointed to what he described as a glaring double standard in Democratic rhetoric. According to the sheriff, many of the same lawmakers who previously argued that criminal suspects deserve anonymity are now demanding that law enforcement officers be publicly exposed.

“It’s interesting,” Bianco said, “that they didn’t want criminals unmasked a couple of months ago, but now they want law enforcement unmasked.”

He argued that the push has nothing to do with accountability and everything to do with intimidation.

“The problem they’re having is they can’t identify officers to terrorize them at their homes, their kids at school, and everywhere else,” he said. “And that’s exactly what the Democrat Party wants.”

Officer Safety at Risk

Bianco stressed that protecting the identities of officers — whether local, state, or federal — is a longstanding safety measure designed to prevent retaliation and harassment, especially during politically charged protests or enforcement operations.

“This is a safety issue,” Bianco explained. “Law enforcement officers should not be placed in danger simply because politicians want to score points.”

Law enforcement organizations across the country have echoed similar concerns in recent years, warning that doxxing and targeted harassment of officers has increased amid rising political tensions.

Immigration and Crime Concerns

During the interview, Bianco also tied the controversy to broader immigration and public safety issues in California. He cited a recent fatal truck crash involving a 21-year-old illegal immigrant from India as an example of what he called the consequences of failed enforcement policies.

While acknowledging that crime is not exclusive to any one group, Bianco argued that lax immigration enforcement and sanctuary-style policies reduce accountability and undermine public trust.

“This is what happens when ideology replaces common sense,” he said. “When leaders refuse to enforce the law, innocent people suffer.”

A Law-and-Order Campaign

Bianco has made public safety a central pillar of his gubernatorial campaign, repeatedly accusing Democratic leaders in Sacramento of embracing policies that shield criminals while tying the hands of police.

He described what he called a growing “love affair with criminals” among California Democrats, arguing that reforms passed in recent years have weakened deterrence and emboldened repeat offenders.

His message appears to be resonating with voters frustrated by rising crime, homelessness, and disorder in major California cities — concerns that polls show are increasingly crossing party lines.

Democrats Push Back

Democratic leaders have rejected Bianco’s claims, defending criminal justice reforms as necessary to address systemic inequities and rebuild trust between law enforcement and communities.

They also argue that transparency is essential to accountability and that immigration enforcement policies must balance security with humanitarian concerns.

Bianco, however, remains unapologetic in his criticism.

“The government’s first responsibility is public safety,” he said. “And right now, California’s leaders are failing at that job.”

As the 2026 gubernatorial race begins to take shape, Bianco’s blunt law-and-order message is positioning him as one of the most outspoken challengers to Democratic dominance in the state — and signaling that crime and policing will be front-and-center issues in the election ahead.