PLACERVILLE, Calif. By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (May 6, 2025) — Two of El Dorado County’s top law enforcement leaders say it’s time for California to change direction—and they’re backing Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to lead the way.
District Attorney Vern Pierson and Sheriff Jeff Leikauf are publicly supporting Bianco’s 2026 gubernatorial bid, citing widespread frustration with what they describe as failed progressive policies, unchecked crime, and Sacramento’s chronic mismanagement.
“El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson, Sheriff Jeff Leikauf and I think it’s time California elects a law-and-order candidate like Sheriff Chad Bianco,”
said a local involved in early discussions of the endorsement, echoing a growing sentiment among conservative leaders across rural counties.
Bianco, who formally announced his candidacy in February, has positioned himself as a tough-on-crime alternative to the Democratic establishment. In a video posted to his campaign website, Bianco declared, “Enough is enough,” and promised to reverse California’s sanctuary laws, strengthen penalties for fentanyl trafficking and theft, and reduce the state’s regulatory and tax burdens.
“El Dorado County is not alone,”
Pierson said in a statement.
“Across this state, we’re seeing the consequences of soft-on-crime legislation that demoralizes law enforcement, emboldens criminals, and fails our communities. Chad Bianco has the experience and the resolve to turn things around.”
Sheriff Leikauf agreed, saying the tide is turning in rural California, where families and business owners are tired of seeing rising crime and homelessness spill into foothill communities.
“We need leadership that reflects the values of safety, accountability, and common sense,” he said.
Bianco is currently the only major Republican to enter the 2026 race. While Democratic contenders like Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are expected to draw heavy support from urban centers, Bianco hopes to galvanize voters in places like El Dorado County that feel increasingly alienated from the state’s progressive policies.
Political analysts say Bianco’s law-and-order platform could energize Republican and independent voters, especially in counties that have resisted criminal justice reforms like Proposition 47, which reduced penalties for certain theft and drug offenses.
As the 2026 race begins to take shape, El Dorado County’s early endorsement may foreshadow a larger rural coalition ready to challenge the state’s political status quo.
