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Today, I spent the day listening to the SEIU-USWW Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on YouTube, and yesterday, I spent my entire day fulfilling my civic duty on the other side of the aisle at the Crosstalk Gubernatorial Forum, California 2026 (on Rumble) in Orange County. I have been quietly and anonymously listening to X Spaces — hearing what people are actually saying when they think no one is tallying their words.

The most active voices belong to those labeled “Boomers,” a name they clearly resent, though it has stuck all the same.

I am not here to tell anyone how to vote, nor to pass judgment on candidates. This is not advice in that condescending sense. It is a letter (yes, remember those?) — first, to see whether my fellow Millennials scattered across the digital world recognize themselves in it, and second, to offer those on both the partisan left and the partisan right the perspective of a Millennial willing to speak plainly, especially one on the older end of the scale. And to be quite honest, this isn’t even about Millennials.

“It’s your kids, Marty!”

I have heard it said — fairly often, actually — that Back to the Future is the perfect script. I do not know much about screenwriting, or even fancy academic writing, if we are being completely honest. What I do know is history. And for a Millennial, and for the argument here, one thing is certain: it explains perfectly why Millennials, some Generation Xers, and almost all of Generation Z are so angry with the world as it exists today.

Like Marty McFly, I am coming to you from California.

I spent part of my upbringing on the East Coast in my late teens and twenties, but I have lived in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside County, and San Diego County. I know my California, mijas.

Here is the thing about Back to the Future. In 1985, Marty was a California middle-class kid, perhaps right on the edge of the working class. His mother tells stories about being a good girl. George McFly is more than a mild science-fiction nerd. Doc Brown is who he is — though I have always wondered about the backstory of his relationship with Marty, and that enormous house.

Then comes the core of the story.

Marty goes back to 1955. Things are different. Race matters a little more — as illustrated through “Mayor” Goldie Wilson. The year 1985 is not as morally sound as 1955 — that is clear. Yet outside of those surface details, Marty realizes something unsettling: his teenage experience is almost identical to that of his parents.

The same ball-busting principal — Mr. Strickland. A father who worked. A mother who stayed home. A house of their own, not an apartment. Everything is clean. The familiar archetypes are all there — the bully, the hero, the nerd, the girlfriend. Prices are reasonable. High school kids have cars. Going on a trip? Wild.

That is the point. Our experience is different. Go back to 1996, the same distance between 1955 and 1985 — and our world is completely insane compared to that time. Taxes. The job market. People, politics, protests. The feeling of it, so stale, industrial traffic, no school buses, expenses that used to be paid for by taxes, just absolutely and utterly different, obligations ignored. This era is more like Back to the Future 2 — where Biff gets that sports book and the filth that came with it.

Now. Do you remember 1996? Let’s take a ride.

Millennials are the bridge — suspended between Generation X and Generation Z. For older Millennials, Generation X were our younger uncles and aunts, our older siblings in many cases, guiding us from the analog world into the digital one. We remember the Oregon Trail because it marked the crossing.

Rodney King. The Los Angeles Riots. Carmen San Diego. O.J. and the Bronco. We are the generation that watched 9/11 live. Our peers became the first warriors of that war. Our early prime was consumed by the crash of 2008. First Black President!

We remember the world before The Donald. We remember the optimism of Obama as adults, the corkiness of George W. Bush, and the young Bill Clinton — the “cool” president who went jogging (like, who does that?) — you’d see the old heads drinking in their lawn chairs, smoking cigarettes after their shift at the brewery in my Hispanic community in Los Angeles.

Patriotism in the classroom. Figuring out what it meant to be a Mexican American. The optimism of a post-Communist world. A society that drilled into us the idea that you could achieve anything — judged by the content of your character, not the color of your skin.

Some of our grandparents were hippies. They had scenes — cars, Elvis, rockabilly, music, Chicano, gangster cholos with mad respect — wide, overlapping worlds of culture. They worked union jobs. Moms stayed home. A few were in low rider clubs. Some went to church. And everyone, in some way, was accountable to God.

Right and wrong were not subjective.

Thieves existed. Crime happened. But we knew it was wrong — no excuses. Kids at my school had fathers in jail, sometimes on a third strike.

Every town had a homeless guy. Most people were respectful, helpful, compassionate. Ours was named Mike. A nice man who preferred distance from a stressful life. Not on drugs. He cleaned up trash and cheered at Little League games for all the boys who knew him. There was also the old couple at the Little League games — no grandkids nearby, but there every season with their seat pads. If your grandparents were not there, or did not care, they always sat at the top of the home-side bleachers.

The nachos were incredible. Coca-Cola. Corporations paid for scoreboards. Invested in the community.

Southern California grandparents all had houses they bought for $5,000. They would always say, “That was a lot back then!” The houses were not special physically, but they were sacred spaces — where you stole a sip of Grandma’s wine, smoked the rest of your uncle’s cigarette, or, gentlemen, found your first Playboy.

Those houses were special.

Every grandpa drank at a bar. Every dad coached something wearing their work attire — not enough time to get home and change — gas was ~$1 per gallon. They helped out because it was their escape. There was one travel baseball team. Everyone else played recreation. We were city champs. Our football program won the “Super Bowl.” A proud moment.

The Golden Days parade. Boy Scouts. No one was rich, but everyone was wealthy.

We watched “the fight” at someone’s house — Tyson, De La Hoya. Oscar? He might be president one day, the first Mexican American. Wild to think about.

We grew up.

Some went to college. Others stayed local — climbing the ladder at In-N-Out, becoming cops, teachers, tradesmen. Different paths. Some had cool cars in the 90s — Chevy S10s, Camaros, Chevelle SSs, Mustangs. Hard work paid off.

Some passed away. Tragedy. A couple were murdered — taken far too soon.

We did not buy things online. We went to swap meets. Churros. Drive-in movies. The Mall. Mall photos — extra glam, extra makeup, hairspray. Painfully embarrassing. Fast food was cheap. Bars were still a novelty. Dance clubs. Country nights. The Boogie. Skate rinks. Arcades. Magazines. Tower Records and zero Starbucks. Helping your uncle move into the first house he bought — the one he still lives in — and flipping through his records: Van Halen. Then getting a burned CD with 2Pac and Biggie.

So yes — this was supposed to be about voting.

What we want is simple. We want those things for our kids. A world that is quieter. Less aggressive. We do not want to hear, “Well, when I was your age…” because this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Especially for the Generation Z kids. You screwed up with them, apologize, and think of them with your policy decisions.

We want a United States where you can fly your flag without fear. Where you are free to like whichever candidate you want. Where politicians are boring because they worry about balancing the budget. Yuck.

We do not want governors wearing Jordans or three-hundred-dollar sweaters, pretending they know what it feels like to drown under inflation. We don’t want a governor who virtue signals. We do not want politicians obsessed with the one percent while ignoring the other ninety-nine. You think Spencer Pratt is a problem because he’s not qualified? I bet he's found himself an epic lane.

We want our chance to make a difference. And here is the warning.

The people standing behind us in line — this emerging Gen X and Gen Z alliance — are teaming up. Yes, you don’t see it? Those in Generation X who either never handled their personal responsibilities or assumed their Boomer parents would already be dead, and the house would be theirs?

This group is willing to burn the whole 🤬 thing down.

We Millennials are not trying to be pushy. But this is what Millennials want. And those unwilling to recognize it — whether Republicans in California during Proposition 50, or Democrats negligent about fraud — understand this clearly:

The coalition willing to burn it down will do exactly that.

After carefully listening to both forums, one conclusion became unavoidable.

The Democrats were not speaking to Millennials.
And most Republicans were not either.

By the way — Millennials, mostly, are not loyal to a political party.

So here is the question.

How are you going to make California more relaxed?

And stop with the taxes.
Stop with the corruption.

Bibliography | Notes

Vergara, Camilo J, photographer. Maria, Gerardo, and Jazmin, alley west of S. Vermont Ave. between 111th St. and 112th St., Los Angeles. Los Angeles, United States, California, 1996. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2020700405/.

Vergara, Camilo J, photographer. Curtney redeeming cans and bottles, $90 for a full van, Basic Fibers, Manhattan and 62nd St., Los Angeles. United States, California, Los Angeles, 1996. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2020705450/.

Margolies, John, photographer. McDonald’s, Azusa, California. United States, California, Azusa, 1977. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017709071/.

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Californians need at least two strong parties, and Republicans need two strong gubernatorial candidates this cycle. Why? Because the only way for Republicans to win is to split the vote. Republicans love to whine about splitting the vote. They love it like Mike Teavee, Willy Wonka (1971), loved Westerns — he would vote for Bianco, hands down.

Tell Bianco to drop out. Tell Hilton to drop out. Serpa. Mercuri. Zacky. Ahn. The reasoning of Republican diehards is always the same — “they’ll split the vote, and we’ll lose!” Also, fun fact, there hasn’t been a California governor under 5’11” going back to at least Pat Brown (congrats, Governor Serpa). Want to do tarot cards next?

Every time I search for new governor candidates, I find another one, and my inner dialogue rings out: “Who is that jive-talking turkey?” One thing I do know — it’s not a delicious Zacky Farms turkey Grandpa Dukes used to carve up at Thanksgiving dinner with his electric knife, between cigarette and whiskey breaks. That’s the reason Zacky is in this race! Grandpa Dukes is now a resident of Riverside County, but his hometown was San Francisco.

But no, we don’t want to split the vote. Tell them all to drop out of the governor’s race except one, and then we can watch another massacre — Brian Dahle, or the recall, or John Cox, Neel Kashkari, Meg Whitman. Arnold doesn’t count. Bill Simon. Dan Lungren. But Pete Wilson won in 1994. Friends debuted two months earlier, and the longest-serving Republican in Congress from California, Ken Calvert, was the age millennials are now and had been on the job for a year or so. That’s what we call a real drought. Take that, Gavin Newsom! Republicans are on an epic roll! At this point, Republicans don’t need a red wave — they need a red atmospheric river.

By the way, to everyone I’ve listed, it is not their fault. Continue reading, part two specifically, if you dare. It’s a murder mystery, of sorts, for the lady Republican crowd, who I know love murder mysteries (that’s Part II). I don’t understand the motives of all the candidates. You don’t either. But they must have some motivation, coming from someplace.

I’ve met all of them, had personal conversations with most of them, and they’re all great guys — the best kind: the dads I see at wrestling or football practice, the batting cages, at the Norco batting cages. And yes, they have a cricket area, so even Steve Hilton is there in this imaginary scenario. I kid, I kid. By the way, Steve Hilton is one of the kindest humans you will ever meet. A real can-do type of guy. He looks great!

In my day, I’ve met a lot of dirty, rotten scoundrels who are in politics, and I’m not talking about policy. None of these guys is “that” privately. They are all welcome in my home, but don’t park that black-and-white cruiser in front of my house on election day. It doesn’t look good, and the kids don’t like it.

Which brings me to my next point: they all have the right to run for office. All of them. Even that guy who goes on long X rants and mostly gets no more than 150 impressions (and AH is being generous). Yes, even that guy has the right to run for governor, Mr. Orange. “Why can’t we pick our own colors?” Reservoir Dogs (1992), when Republicans still had some power in California.

The McCarthy-era style of politician does not fit the millennium, but the passion is great. The slandering is not. Old Joe McCarthy may have seen the future, like you, my friend, but it’s all in the delivery.

By the way, the way in which the character Joe Cabot ran the meeting in Reservoir Dogs should be in the bylaws of how central committees should run. As Rickles said, “It’s a pleasure to be here for this kind of money!”

So what is my point here? I haven’t gotten to it. Take a chill pill. Actually, don’t take pills. They are bad for you.

Here is the point — the unrefined, dirty little argument: Republicans need as many of these guys to get as much traction as possible.

What?

Yeah, you heard me. Because the problem with the Republican Party is that there is no party. Every one of these guys has a following. Different people, loosely tied together by a Republican-red thread.

But outside of the Republican circus, you are perceived as boring, not engaging, suit-wearing, and, dare I say, old. And telling the “kids” to work harder isn’t going to work, either.

Oh no, I’m going to be persona non grata! To that, I say drink the wine. And here’s another Latin saying for you out there: in vino veritas. In wine, there is truth.

Drink up. Buckle up.

What the Republican Party needs is as many people as possible to build up a following. They need as many people as possible to be excited about a change in California. They need that message conveyed to as many people as possible, and in every way possible.

That means Republicans need two candidates to split the vote, while all others who are not in the top two drop out at a hard-line date. When is that date? “Bueller? Bueller?” That’s your cue, California GOP.

This, as radical as it may sound, is called theory. Strategy. No, I’m no consultant.

Hear me out, Republicans. Get out of your own way. Take a step back from your bias in between bites (oh, Gavin) of the bad Republican lunches — chicken and rice, sometimes just salad and cake, but never all four. Fifty bucks.

Without the top two candidates being Republican, the math just ain’t mathing. Republicans need to push to the line as a team, with similar values (not every star has to align), and work toward winning the governor’s race in 2026.

I don’t care if Wilber wins. No, not Wilber. There is already too much pork in California’s government. But two of the guys I listed. Crazy? Yes. But how else do we escape this tangled web you’ve weaved here since ’94, Charlotte?

Have Republican gubernatorial candidates speak — have all of them talk — at your CRA events, the Log Cabin Republicans, Lincoln Club events, and all the ladies’ clubs (those are the most fun, by the way). Then, when the time is right, the top two go to the ballot, and no one should pull out a day early.

At that point, let the final two fight each other after the primary — the Republicans have already won the governorship. Radical? Perhaps. Dangerous? YES. But how well has the current strategy worked since 1994, Republicans? Because at the end of the day, aren’t these guys on the same team?

As my football coach, former New York Jets head coach Joe Walton, used to say, “Be happy for your teammate’s success.” Each of these men is spending their time, money, time away from their family, their livelihoods, their gardens — and what have they gotten? You know. Look at the cesspool that is social media comment sections.

What does history say, Republicans? It happened in the 1850s, when the Republican Party was in its infancy — weak — and the “Know-Nothings” in California (formally the American Party) emerged, briefly converting nativist anger into real political power. They sound like groypers, if we’re being honest.

Hey. At least the “Know-Nothings” got J. Neely Johnson elected governor, and that’s what’s coming next — maybe not the governor part. Do a little research and tell the Alta Historian that his suspicions are not reasonable.

The Alta Historian will stay, always and forever, a Jeffersonian Republican willing to negotiate with a good donkey, porcupine, or elephant.

End of Part I.

Bibliography | Notes

Friends. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. NBC, 1994.

Reservoir Dogs. Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Miramax Films, 1992.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Directed by Mel Stuart. Paramount Pictures, 1971.

California gubernatorial election results, 1994–2022.

Classical Latin proverb: in vino veritas.

P.S. If nobody ever reads this, let this stand as a primary source of the moment many Americans realized something fundamental was breaking, and that the choice to act still existed. And if the republic collapsed, I’m sorry, I tried. :’ (

Commentary — In the grand sweep of Los Angeles County’s history, few institutions embody the weight of public trust and the complexity of human endeavor as the Sheriff’s Department. I hope not to influence, but rather, inform voters, we turn our gaze to the 2026 Sheriff’s election, where three men, each shaped by distinct paths, vie to lead an office steeped in a legacy of service and sacrifice.

Professor V.

The Story

Since California’s statehood in 1850, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has carved a storied path through a landscape as vast and varied as the county itself. Spanning 4,058 square miles and serving millions through 21 stations, the department lives by its motto, “A Tradition of Service.”

Over 175 years, 34 sheriffs have shouldered the mantle, their tenures marked by courage, controversy, and the ceaseless demands of a growing metropolis. Among them, figures like Jim Barton (No. 2 & 5, 1852–1855, 1856) stand out, not only for serving split terms but for his tragic end—cut down in Irvine by the bandito Juan Flores, a tale the Alta Historian will revisit later this year.

Others, too, returned to the office, their names etched in the annals of the department’s history:

David W. Alexander (No. 3 & 12, 1856, 1876–1877)

William R. Rowland (No. 11 & 14, 1871–1875, 1880–1882)

John C. Cline (No. 20 & 25, 1893–1894, 1915–1921)

William A. Hammel (No. 22 & 24, 1899–1902, 1907–1914)

Alex Villanueva, the 33rd Sheriff, now seeks to join this rare company, aiming to serve again as the 35th. His ambition is not without precedent, nor is the prospect of a Spanish-speaking sheriff.

From Tomás Sánchez to Martin G. Aguirre, and notably Eugene W. Biscailuz (No. 27, 1932–1958), who spoke Basque, Spanish, English, and Latin, the department has long reflected the county’s diverse heritage. These men, rooted in the region’s Californio and Anglo-American tapestry, laid a foundation for leadership that resonates in today’s contest.

Below, in ascending order by last name, are the candidates vying to lead the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

Mike Bornman: The Captain

• Slogan: “Trusted Leadership for a Safer Future”

• Website: CaptainMikeBornman.com

• X at: LASDCaptainMike

Michael Bornman, a retired captain with 36 years of service in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), is running for Sheriff in the 2026 election. His campaign website highlights a career spanning custody, patrol, operations, criminal and administrative investigations, federal task forces, and bureau creation. Promoted to sergeant at Lennox Station, Bornman served as watch and field sergeant, supervising deputies, and later joined a high-priority joint task force due to his reputation as a tenacious investigator.

Bornman’s campaign emphasizes addressing the department’s challenges, including deteriorating infrastructure, declining morale, and decreasing public support. He proposes a forensic audit of the department’s budget to optimize spending. He prioritizes deputy morale, recruitment, and retention to combat overwork and a reported mental health crisis, with 12 deputy suicides under the current administration.

“LA County wants, needs, and deserves a sheriff who will lead with strength and integrity, free from political gamesmanship and agendas,” Bowman writes on X.

A veteran with a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, Bachelor’s in English, and Associate’s in Police Science, Bornman critiques the current leadership under Sheriff Robert Luna, citing forced overtime and systemic failures like the 2024 CAD system breakdown. His vision focuses on accountability, transparency, and restoring trust in the LASD.

As Los Angeles County approaches the 2026 Sheriff’s election, voters face a choice between candidates like Luna, Martinez, Villanueva, and now, Bornman. Each carries the department’s storied legacy, but Bornman’s platform centers on experienced leadership to navigate the county’s diverse and complex public safety challenges.

Robert Luna: The Incumbent

• Slogan: “Re-Elect Robert Luna”

• Website: LunaForSheriff.com

• X at: LunaForSheriff

Robert Luna, the 34th Sheriff, assumed office in November 2022, bringing with him a vision forged in the streets of unincorporated East Los Angeles, where he grew up in a poor Latino immigrant family. His website outlines a career spanning 36 years with the Long Beach Police Department, culminating in a seven-year tenure as its chief.

Now, leading the nation’s largest sheriff’s department—nearly 17,000 strong—he emphasizes stability, accountability, and reform.

“I am proud to lead your Sheriff’s Department, the largest in the nation, with nearly 17,000 sworn and professional staff who courageously serve our communities in some of the most challenging situations,” Luna writes.

His tenure has seen measurable progress: homicides dropped 14% in the past year, with 2024 marking the lowest in five years. Overall, violent crime decreased by 3%, and property crime by 2%. Luna’s reforms include a new Crime Strategy Unit, which leverages data and community ties, and a Metro system safety initiative that has curbed fare evasion and narcotics-related incidents. His ban on law enforcement gangs and the creation of the Office of Constitutional Policing signal a commitment to trust and transparency, bolstered by public dashboards that track crime statistics, use of force, and personnel complaints.

Luna’s philosophy, shaped by witnessing both exemplary and flawed policing in his youth, centers on collaborative, community-based solutions. A graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute and Harvard’s program for senior executives, he holds a master’s in public administration from Cal State Long Beach.

Residing in Long Beach with his wife and two adult children, Luna seeks re-election to continue a mission he describes as “effective, respectful, empathetic, and constitutional.”

Oscar Martinez: The Challenger

• Slogan: “No Politics, Just Public Safety”

• Website: OscarForSheriff.com

• X at: Oscar4LASheriff

Oscar Martinez, a Marine Corps veteran and longtime sheriff’s deputy, enters the race with a motto that cuts to the core: “No Politics, Just Public Safety.” His journey, detailed on his website, began as an immigrant child seeking a better life. Military service in Iraq and Afghanistan instilled in him discipline and sacrifice, values he carried into the Sheriff’s Department.

From jails to patrol to the chief’s executive aide, Martinez has seen the department’s inner workings, grounding his campaign in a call for integrity and trust.

“I came to the United States as a child, an immigrant in search of a better life,” Martinez reflects. “Growing up, I learned that success isn’t handed to you, it’s earned through perseverance, integrity, and a commitment to something greater than yourself.”

He critiques the current administration, arguing that Sheriff Luna has ceded too much ground to “unelected bureaucrats and anti-police groups,” weakening public safety. Martinez pledges to restore principled leadership, prioritizing deputies and residents over political agendas.

Living in Los Angeles County with his wife and two children, he draws on his faith and family to fuel a campaign focused on service and accountability.

Alex Villanueva: Number 33

• Slogan: “Help is on the way.”

• Website: AlexVillanueva2026.com

• X at: AlexVillanueva33

Alex Villanueva, the 33rd Sheriff, is no stranger to the office, having made history in 2018 as the first challenger in over a century to unseat an incumbent. His website chronicles a 35-year career with the department, marked by roles as field supervisor, academy instructor, and watch commander. His motto, “Help is on the Way,” reflects a resolve to restore what he sees as a faltering institution.

“Sheriff Villanueva commanded the largest sheriff’s department in the nation, overseeing nearly 18,000 sworn and professional staff and managing complex public safety operations in one of the most diverse counties in America,” his campaign notes.

During his tenure, he addressed staffing shortages, expanded the Mental Health Evaluation Teams, and enhanced emergency response capabilities. A veteran of the Air Force and National Guard, Villanueva holds advanced degrees, including a doctorate in public administration. His campaign emphasizes transparency—through town halls and public tools—and a return to operational strength.

As Los Angeles County stands at this crossroads, the 2026 Sheriff’s election offers voters a choice between continuity, reform, and restoration. Luna, Martinez, and Villanueva each carry the weight of the department’s storied past, yet their visions for its future diverge. In a county as sprawling and diverse as this one, the question remains: who will best uphold the “Tradition of Service” for the challenges ahead?

SOURCES | BIBLIOGRAPHY

“Eugene Biscailuz, Longtime Sheriff, Dies.” Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2007. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-oct-21-me-then21-story.html#:~:text=A%20short%2C%20stocky%20man%2C%20Biscailuz,%2C%20Spanish%2C%20English%20and%20Latin.

“Los Angeles County Sheriffs, 1850–Present.” Los Angeles Almanac. Accessed August 4, 2025. https://www.laalmanac.com/history/hi704.php#google_vignette.

Originally published August 5, 2025

Commentary — I am here to report and highlight what is happening out there, informing voters like you about who is running in elections. Given the limited coverage from the Republican standpoint, we will focus on the Republican side of the race.

The Story:

A new contestant has entered the chat for California governor, carrying with him the promise of a historic milestone. Ché Ahn, of Korean heritage, has declared his candidacy, aiming to etch his name as perhaps the state’s first Asian governor. His entry, announced this past weekend, stirs the currents of a race already brimming with ambition and possibility.

From the pages of the Sacramento Bee, reporter Nicole Nixon recounts the momentum of another contender, Chad Bianco, the steadfast Riverside County sheriff. Between January and June, Bianco amassed a formidable war chest of over $1.6 million, securing his place as a ribbon winner as a fundraiser in the Republican field.

Yet, his lead is narrow, for Steve Hilton, once a voice on Fox News, entered the fray in April and swiftly gathered more than $1.5 million. With Bianco’s two-month advantage, the contest for early momentum is tight, and one cannot help but wonder if these sums will prove a prelude to triumph or merely a fleeting flourish.

Meanwhile, whispers of another titan stir the political winds. Rick Caruso, a billionaire whose wealth casts a long shadow, is said to be contemplating a run, as noted by KFI News. Having poured over $100 million of his fortune into a failed mayoral bid against Karen Bass, Caruso now treads California’s breadth on a listening tour, meeting donors and weighing the state’s burdens.

Caruso’s capacity to self-fund grants him the rare privilege of deliberation, unhurried by the ticking clock that pressures his rivals. Should he choose to enter, the fortunes of Bianco and Hilton, substantial though they are, may pale before the resources Caruso could summon.

In this moment, as the candidates maneuver and the people watch, the race for California’s future takes shape—a tale of resolve, riches, and the hope of renewal, unfolding beneath the Golden State’s vast and watchful sky.

Updated List of Candidates:

Ché Ahn: Angelino Theologan

Slogan: “A New Vision for California”

Website: che4ca.com

Ché Ahn, born in South Korea after the war, embodies the resilience of an immigrant who pursued the American Dream. With over 40 years of leadership in community and humanitarian initiatives, including earning advanced degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, he has dedicated his life to strengthening families and serving others.

Raised in a family that valued freedom and opportunity, Ahn was instilled with values of integrity and compassion, believing that “leadership begins with humility and service.” His campaign is a bold call to renew California, which he argues has been undermined by high taxes, a growing homelessness crisis, and policies disconnected from common sense.

“Californians deserve a Governor who leads with courage and compassion, not ideology,” Ahn declares, pledging to bring accountability to a state he sees as struggling with economic and social challenges. His experience as a community leader and advocate for constitutional rights grounds his promise to lower taxes, address homelessness effectively, and restore trust in governance.

Chad Bianco: The Sheriff’s Resolve

Slogan: “Only the Sheriff Can Save Us Now”

Website: biancoforgovernor.com

Chad Bianco, born in 1967 at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, embodies the steadfastness of a man shaped by a life of service. For 32 years, he has served with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and since 2018, he has served as the Riverside County Sheriff, witnessing firsthand the toll of what he calls Sacramento’s “failed policies.”

Raised in a small mining town, Bianco was instilled with values of integrity and perseverance, believing that “respect is earned through actions, character, and commitment to service.” His campaign is a clarion call to restore the California Dream, which he argues has become a nightmare for many due to rising taxes, crime, and an unaffordable housing market.

“Californians deserve a Governor who will fight for the people instead of Sacramento’s special interests,” Bianco declares, pledging to bring common sense to a state he sees as adrift. His experience as sheriff lends credibility to his promise to address crime and rebuild trust in governance.

Steve Hilton: The Outsider’s Perspective

Slogan: “Golden Together”

Website: goldentogether.com

Steve Hilton, a California resident since 2012 and a U.S. citizen since 2021, brings a transatlantic perspective to the race. Once a senior policy and strategy advisor to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and host of The Next Revolution on Fox News, Hilton has also taught at Stanford and founded the tech startup Crowdpac.

His campaign, Golden Together, reflects a blend of policy acumen and entrepreneurial zeal, focused on tackling California’s myriad challenges. Hilton’s outsider status—neither a career politician nor a native Californian—lends him a unique lens, one that sees California’s potential through the eyes of an adopted son eager to restore its luster.

Brandon Jones: The Faithful Reformer

Slogan: “Restore California”

Website: brandonrjones.org

Brandon Jones, a Christian, husband, father, and entrepreneur, anchors his campaign in faith and a commitment to service. As the founder of RESTORE California, Jones proposes a comprehensive plan to address the state’s crises—crime, housing, homelessness, education, healthcare, and environmental policy.

“My faith teaches me the importance of compassion, accountability, and serving others,” Jones asserts, framing his candidacy as a mission to create “safer streets, affordable housing, thriving communities, and a future we can believe in.”

His RESTORE California Solution offers practical steps, from supporting law enforcement to incentivizing affordable housing and expanding job training, all aimed at uplifting Californians burdened by economic and social challenges.

Daniel R. Mercuri: The Veteran’s Crusade

Slogan: “Starve the Government, Feed the People”

Website: danielforcalgovernor.com

Daniel R. Mercuri, a U.S. Navy veteran and Southern California native, enters the race with a fire born of frustration. A production company CEO, CFO of a private investment group, and advertising professional, Mercuri’s political journey began in 2019 as a congressional candidate, followed by runs in the 2021 recall and 2022 primary elections.

“As a veteran, I did not swear my oath to Communism, Marxism, Socialism or any other …ism for that matter,” he declares. “I swore the oath to uphold and defend the U.S. Constitution.”

Mercuri sees California’s woes—rooted in what he calls systemic career politicians—as a betrayal of the people’s trust. His campaign is a battle cry against corruption, promising to dismantle the “Deep State” and restore constitutional liberties with a resolve forged in service and faith.

David Serpa: The Marine’s Mission

Slogan: “California 2.0: The Promise, The Purpose, The Plan”

Website: serpaforgovernor.com

David Serpa, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran and successful real estate businessman, brings a disciplined vision to the race. His campaign, rooted in “integrity, service, and accountability,” pledges to run California “with the discipline of a business, the heart of a public servant, and the boldness of a pioneer.”

Serpa’s platform emphasizes transparency and a people-first approach, drawing on his experience in combat and community leadership to protect families, veterans, and the vulnerable. His mantra—“We tell the truth, keep our word, and earn trust through action”—reflects a commitment to rebuilding trust in a state weary of empty promises.

Leo Zacky: The Agrarian Advocate

Slogan: “Let’s Take California Back”

Website: leozacky.com

Leo Zacky carries the legacy of Zacky Farms, a century-old California poultry empire built by his great-grandfather. A former lobbyist for the California Poultry Federation and a hands-on executive, Zacky learned the business from the ground up, working alongside employees during the 2008 recession to save the family enterprise.

“During those years, I learned that everything has a cost,” he reflects, citing his battles with California’s excessive regulations, high taxes, and mismanagement. Zacky’s campaign is a pledge to “roll up his sleeves” and clean up Sacramento’s corruption and wasteful spending. Respected by agricultural and business communities, he positions himself as a constitutionalist and a man of the people, ready to address the state’s diverse needs.

In Closing

In California’s gubernatorial saga, the contours of the contest remain elusive, yet a vibrant energy pulses beneath the surface. The race, still in its early stages, promises a spectacle of ambition and ideals, with its outcome roughly three hundred days away from the primary. It remains a possibility that none of these candidates make it into the top two in the blue state dominated by the voter power of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento.

Even so, for those seeking to understand the Republican Party candidates and their causes, the path is clear: The New Founders Journal pledges to walk this journey, chronicling the endeavors of these aspirants, amplifying their voices in a discourse too often fractured by discord.

SOURCES | BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ahn, Ché. “Meet Ché Ahn.” Ché Ahn for California Governor. Accessed August 5, 2025. https://che4ca.com/.

Bianco for Governor 2026. “From Sheriff to Governor: Protecting California.” Accessed July 31, 2025. https://biancoforgovernor.com.

Brandon Jones for Governor 2026. “A Bold Vision for California’s Future.” Accessed July 31, 2025. https://brandonrjones.org.

Daniel for California Governor. “Who Am I.” Accessed July 31, 2025. https://www.danielforcalgovernor.com.

Golden Together. “Meet Steve Hilton.” Accessed July 31, 2025. https://goldentogether.com/steve-hilton/.

KFI AM 640. “Rick Caruso Eyes California Governor’s Race After Harris Exit.” iHeart, August 4, 2025. https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2025-08-04-rick-caruso-eyes-california-governors-race-after-harris-exit/?pname=kfiam640.com&sc=dnsredirect.

Leo Zacky for Governor. “Our Candidate for 2026: Meet Leo.” Accessed July 31, 2025. https://leozacky.com/meet-leo/.

Nixon, Nicole, and David Lightman. “What’s Next for Kamala Harris? It Isn’t Governor of California.” Sacramento Bee, July 30, 2025. https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article311551289.html.

Serpa for Governor. “The Plan.” Accessed July 31, 2025. https://serpaforgovernor.com.