Members of the Marin GOP faced a difficult decision choosing which candidate to endorse for governor in the June 2, 2026, primary election. Both Hilton and Bianco are strong—arguably the strongest we have seen on the Republican side in many years. The choice was made even more challenging by the importance of entering the primary with a single Republican candidate. If both remain in the race, they would split the vote, thereby increasing the risk that two Democrats advance to the general election.
The Marin GOP hosted separate dinners for each candidate at the same restaurant in San Rafael. Several of our members attended CRA and California GOP conventions, or traveled to other counties to hear these candidates speak. We asked questions, met with them directly, and engaged in substantive discussions. Some of our members are still deeply involved in each campaign.
To avoid unnecessary division, we required a two-thirds majority for any candidate to receive and endorsement from the Marin GOP. Our goal is to strengthen the party, unite Republicans, and drive strong voter turnout at the polls for this critical election.
For the endorsement meeting, we offered each gubernatorial candidate options for their appearance. They could choose to appear in person, via Zoom, or by pre-recorded video. Presentations were limited to five minutes. Only candidates appearing in person or by Zoom responded to questions from members. The meeting was closed to the public to allow for candid and confidential discussion. Members were then given the opportunity to speak in support of or opposition to each candidate.
Votes were cast by paper ballot to protect confidentiality. Ballots were counted and the tallies were verified by a representative supporting each candidate. The results were clear – Sheriff Chad Bianco received more than the required two-thirds majority. Thus, he became the candidate endorsed by our county party committee.
Why Bianco? Members were particularly impressed with his administrative leadership of the fourth-largest sheriff’s department in the country, overseeing a $1.3 billion annual budget. His past electoral successes also worked in his favor. He has won two races by roughly 20 points as a Republican in a predominantly Democratic County.
The Marin GOP We now moves forward with an aggressive get-out-the-vote effort that includes other Republican candidates for statewide office. And we vow to support whichever of these fine gubernatorial candidates emerges from the primary as the Republican nominee.
See our other endorsed candidates.
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