Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an avid supporter of President Trump and fierce critic of Gov. Gavin Newsom, will run for governor in 2026.

The Riverside County sheriff called rumors of his office conducting immigration sweeps false and said “your deputies are here to help you.”

Riverside County deputies will not perform “any type of immigration enforcement,” Sheriff Chad Bianco said, as fear among local immigrant communities has increased due to intensifying raids.

Bianco, who was first elected sheriff in 2018, can continue to lead Riverside County’s top law enforcement agency if he were to run for governor and lose. A 2022 state law that shifts sheriff’s elections to presidential election years tacked on another two years to Bianco’s term, which now ends in 2028.

After months of speculation, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco will officially announce a run for governor of California.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco is planning to run for governor of the state of California in 2026, a source with the campaign confirmed to CBS News Los Angeles Wednesday.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco will make "a major announcement regarding a statewide campaign" on Monday.

Speculation is mounting that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, will throw his hat into the race for California Governor next year.