Bianco Team Defends His Campaigning in Uniform

Sheriff Bianco Team Shrugs Off Lawsuit Regarding Campaigning in Uniform

RIVERSIDE — Some people have taken issue with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco wearing his uniform while campaigning for governor. Now, one person has gone well beyond complaining. He’s filed a lawsuit.

Democratic candidate Stephen Cloobeck filed a lawsuit against Republican contender Bianco. alleging that Bianco violated state government code 3206, which states: “No officer or employee of a local agency shall participate in political activities of any kind while in uniform.”

Sheriff Bianco campaigned for higher office while wearing his sheriff’s uniform, a move Cloobeck claims constitutes a clear breach of the law.

“This is about accountability and ensuring every candidate plays by the rules,” Cloobeck’s office said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.

Sheriff Chad Bianco’s Campaign for Governor released the following statement after Cloobeck sued the Sheriff because Stephen Cloobeck doesn’t like the clothes Sheriff Bianco wears:

“If Democrat Stephen Cloobeck thinks that Stephen Cloobeck can increase his name ID and Democratic bonafides by using lawfare against the Sheriff Bianco campaign, then Stephen Cloobeck is sorely mistaken.

“Sheriff Bianco is the leading Republican in the race for California Governor,” according to the statement. “We very much discourage all the other D-list Democratic candidates for Governor from trying to copy Stephen Cloobeck’s disdainful tactics.”

Democrat Stephen Cloobeck filed suit against Sheriff Bianco yesterday because Stephen Cloobeck didn’t like the clothes Sheriff Bianco wears on the campaign trail.

This is the second lawsuit Democrat Stephen Cloobeck has filed against a political rival in the past several months. Stephen Cloobeck sued Antonio Villaraigosa in June because Stephen Cloobeck didn’t like the words Villaraigosa was saying.

Stephen Cloobeck – whose first campaign ads for California Governor targeted voters in Florida and New York media markets – is obviously not a very serious candidate.

Sheriff Bianco is the leading Republican candidate in the race for Governor, with two recent statewide and independent polls showing that Bianco has a healthy lead over his top Republican opponent. The polls also showed that Sheriff Bianco is securely in the Top 2 and is just a few points behind leading Democrat Katie Porter.

Sheriff Bianco outraised nearly the entire field in the last fundraising period.

Bianco was first elected Sheriff in 2018 and has been a law enforcement professional for more than 30 years. He was re-elected in 2022.