Bianco slams Dem policy as GOP leads California governor race

California Democrats are panicking at the prospect that the state’s forest primary system could send two Republicans to the November ballot, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told Fox News Digital.

New York Post Democratic lawmakers have privately warned that a crowded and “uninspiring” field of candidates could split votes in California’s top-two primary system, allowing Republicans to advance to two-man runoffs in a state long dominated by Democrats.

One Democratic state legislator described the situation as a “shitshow,” while another criticized party leadership for doing too little to solidify the field, according to the Post. Under the California system, only the top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election.

According to the poll cited by the Post, former Fox News host Steve Hilton is ahead with 17% support, followed by Bianco with 14% support. California Rep. Eric Swalwell also received 14%, while former Rep. Katie Porter received 12% and billionaire Tom Steyer received 9%.

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That concern comes as Democrats gather in San Francisco this weekend for the state party convention; here, candidates are expected to present their case to party activists ahead of the June primaries.

In addition to Nancy Pelosi, gubernatorial candidates Swalwell and Porter also appeared on stage at the Moscone Center.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa dismissed the possibility of the two Republicans advancing.

“At the end of the day, everyone has the right to run for office,” Villaraigosa told the Post. “The idea that two Republicans could win [the primary] is the poppy rooster.”

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Representative Nancy Pelosi, Calif., speaks at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco on Saturday, February 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Bianco disputed this assessment.

“Yeah, so yeah, it’s kind of weird that they’re panicking about this and they don’t realize that this is due to decades of complete failure by the Democrats,” Bianco told Fox News Digital.

“It helped California not because they didn’t have a Democratic candidate, but because they didn’t have a Democrat policy to point to. Democrat policy is untenable in California.”

Responding to Villaraigosa’s dismissal, Bianco noted poll trends.

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California gubernatorial candidate Eric Swalwell waves before speaking at the 2026 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

“Frankly, the polls contradict that statement,” he said. “There have been two Republicans ahead in the polls for the last six months.”

Bianco said he believes voter sentiment is shifting more broadly.

“California is looking for change. They are looking for honesty, integrity, transparency and leadership,” he said. “That’s why they see me as their next governor.”

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The California Democratic Party did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

It is not yet clear which of the eight Democratic gubernatorial candidates leaving the convention this weekend will receive the party’s official nomination.

The New York Post reported that Democrats fear that splitting the vote among multiple candidates could allow Republicans to take both top spots; It’s a scenario that could put a Republican in the governor’s office for the first time since Arnold Schwarzenegger left in 2011.