Former Riverton, Utah, Mayor Trent Staggs, a Trump-appointed regional advocate at the Small Business Administration, said California Governor Gavin Newsom has become a liability for Democrats after a new survey showed a Republican candidate leading in the race to succeed him.
“Newsom is so bad he’s turning California red,” Staggs wrote on social media, reacting to a post from Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is running for governor. Bianco had shared a poll circulated by Tavern Research that showed him narrowly ahead in a crowded primary field.
Newsom is so bad he's turning California red. https://t.co/TVdmdZtp9q
— Trent Staggs (@MayorStaggs) February 18, 2026
The polling memo, released by the campaign of Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra, said the contest remains fluid, with no clear front-runner and a large share of undecided voters. Under California’s top-two primary system, the two highest vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party.
Bianco, a Republican who has built his campaign around crime, taxes and immigration, has drawn attention for proposals that include ending property taxes for homeowners who have paid off their homes or reached age 65. In a social media video, he said people should not be “forced to pay the government to live” in their own houses, arguing that such relief would help retirees remain in their homes.
@chadbianco Replying to @ruby2024 ♬ original sound – Sheriff Bianco
The sheriff has also touched on gun rights and tougher enforcement policies. In a separate post, Bianco said he envisioned “a California where criminals are scared out of their mind because of how many concealed weapons the good guys have,” emphasizing his support for the Second Amendment.
I dream of a California where criminals are scared out of their mind because of how many concealed weapons the good guys have.
— Sheriff Chad Bianco (@ChadBianco) February 11, 2026
The governor’s race has become a focal point for criticism of Democratic leadership in the state, where affordability, public safety and homelessness dominate voter concerns. Newsom, who is term-limited, has defended his record on climate policy, economic growth and social programs, while Republicans argue that years of one-party rule have driven up costs and crime.
Recent polling suggests a fragmented electorate, with several well-funded candidates competing for support and no dominant leader emerging.
With months to go before the primary, campaigns from both parties are preparing for an expensive and closely watched race that could signal whether voter dissatisfaction with state leadership is translating into a meaningful shift in California’s political balance.
