Riverside County’s Republican sheriff gained attention over the fall for leading the crowded gubernatorial competition to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), but his momentum is likely to be short-lived. 

An Emerson College survey released earlier this month put Chad Bianco’s campaign at the top of the race, dominated by Democrats. The poll indicated the sheriff’s campaign had gained significant traction after he previously trailed former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter over the summer by 6 percentage points when she led the field of contenders.