Chad Bianco is the Republican sheriff of Riverside County, California, first elected in 2018 after a long career in the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. He ran for governor of California in 2026 and did not advance from the June primary.
Case
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized about 650,000 ballots in early 2026 under search warrants, citing a disputed vote discrepancy. The California Supreme Court held the seizure unlawful; Bianco says his investigation was lawful and disagrees with the ruling.
Role at the time: Riverside County Sheriff
Response to this claim
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office lawfully seized the county's Proposition 50 ballots and other election materials under search warrants issued by a judge, because Elections Code section 15551(d) can be read to permit a seizure under a valid judicial warrant.
“We are very disappointed and wholeheartedly disagree with the court’s ruling … The investigation was a lawful and legal investigation into potential election fraud. The facts of this case have never been disputed, this was an obvious legal attempt to prevent the investigation from occurring that was successful. … The AG now has unchecked power over any investigation in the state of California … I will obey the writs. I will not obey the message behind them — that local law enforcement works for Sacramento, not for the people who elected us.”
The reference point is the sheriff's seizure and handling of the ballots. Bianco says the investigation was lawful and that the court was wrong, so he defends the seizure; his statement that he will obey the writs concerns compliance and does not retract that position.
Role at the time: Riverside County Sheriff, then a candidate for governor of California
Response to this claim
The Attorney General has no legal authority to order a sheriff to halt or pause a lawful criminal investigation.
“I was contacted by a representative of Attorney General Bonta and asked to halt this investigation until after March 6th. No reason was provided and there is no legal justification for the Attorney General to stop a lawful investigation. … Under direction of the court and the court's jurisdiction over all evidence, this investigation will continue despite A.G. Bonta's attempts to stop it. A.G. Bonta is part of the executive branch of this state. Under the separation of powers principle, A.G. Bonta does not have authority over the court or evidence, and I will carry out my constitutional duty to pursue justice impartially. … This investigation is simple. Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported.”
The reference point is the sheriff's seizure and handling of the ballots. Bianco calls the investigation lawful and says the Attorney General has no authority to stop it, which defends both the seizure and his continuing after the Attorney General's directives.
Statement dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026
Statement dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026
Statement dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026
Statement dates: March 20, 2026 to September 24, 2026
