Chad Bianco Calls to Abolish California’s Income Tax

Chad Bianco, the Sheriff of Riverside County and a candidate for governor in California, declared on Saturday that it’s time to eliminate the state’s income tax.

In a post, Bianco expressed, “Taxpayers should not shoulder the burden for special interests in Sacramento.” He notes that the governor has goals of “cutting taxes for working families and businesses,” “preventing overregulation to support economic growth,” and “utilizing California’s energy resources to reduce gas and utility prices.”

His website highlights that:

California is known as the most expensive state in the U.S., which may explain why over 412,000 residents moved to other states between July 2020 and July 2023. This trend is not surprising given the high income taxes and stringent regulations residents face. Many Californians are seeking better opportunities elsewhere due to decades of failed policies and overregulation.

When Bianco announced his candidacy in February to replace the term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom, he emphasized that Californians deserve more than basic issues like high taxes, rising crime, and the sight of tent encampments in major cities.

“We need to be brutally honest during this campaign, including with the media,” he asserted. “Democratic elected officials are accountable for California’s decline. What have we seen? Increased crime, elevated taxes, the highest cost of living nationwide, and serious struggles just to afford groceries and gas. Californians truly deserve better.”

In the race for governor, Bianco is contesting against former Fox News host Steve Hilton on the Republican side. On the Democratic side, notable candidates include former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, all of whom are vying for the same position.