Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco will run for reelection in 2028.

He confirmed that plan Tuesday morning, after a news conference that marked the first time Bianco has spoken publicly since losing his bid for California governor in the June 2 primary.

When asked if he would run again for a higher office, Bianco said he had “zero political plans” and that his only plans were to continue to serve the state.

“My plans are always to make California better,” Bianco.

Bianco said he would continue serving as sheriff as he has done “faithfully for the last eight years,” and would keep trying to “save the state.”

“Our state is failing because of failed politicians and until we put people of character in those offices, nothing’s going to change,” Bianco said.

Bianco, 58, spoke after an appearance with attorney general candidate and former Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates at Avila’s Historic 1929 — the same downtown Riverside venue where Bianco announced his gubernatorial run in early 2025.

At the podium, Bianco endorsed Gates and said voters should support Gates over his opponent, Attorney General Rob Bonta. Gates then endorsed Bianco’s reelection campaign.

In the race for governor, Bianco came in fourth place, winning 10.2% of the vote, state election results show. He finished behind Democrats Tom Steyer and Xavier Becerra and fellow Republican Steve Hilton.

Bianco was first elected as Riverside County’s sheriff in 2018, knocking out incumbent Sheriff Stan Sniff. He easily won reelection in 2022.