Daily Business Report: Monday, April 14, 2025
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco Racks Up Growing Number Of Gubernatorial Endorsements
By Evan Symon | California Globe
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco became the gubernatorial candidate with the most endorsements this week as several high-profile lawmakers announced that they are backing his 2026 run.
In the first month following his initial announcement that he is running in February, Bianco saw only a trickle of endorsements come his way. However, the growing number of gubernatorial candidates joining since then, including former Congresswoman Katie Porter and former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, has spurred a jump in support. His recent announcements that he would end income tax and remain tough on crime as Governor only increased this boost.
38 (39 counting Bianco) of the 58 County Sheriffs in the state have backed him so far, including the Democratic Sheriff of San Francisco City and County Paul Miyamoto. With no other Republican with an elected/appointed background joining the race as of Friday, GOP lawmakers have endorsed him too. This includes 15 state Assemblymembers and Senators, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli and, this week, two members of Congress – Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Darrell Issa (R-CA).
California’s lieutenant governor leases offices to the state. What if she’s elected governor?
By Alexei Koseff | CalMatters
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who earns millions of dollars annually from extensive property investments around the Sacramento region and beyond, says she will put some of her holdings into a blind trust if she is elected governor of California.
The commitment follows an inquiry from CalMatters to Kounalakis, who is running for governor in 2026. According to financial disclosures, her portfolio includes downtown Sacramento office buildings that rent to dozens of organizations with business before the state and at least three state agencies.
“If elected governor, the LG commits to placing any assets that may present a conflict of interest into a blind trust,” David Beltran, a spokesperson for Kounalakis’ campaign, said in a statement.
