Lorenzo Lamas says he has stayed quiet long enough.
After years of holding back his political views, the Hollywood veteran is stepping into the California governor’s race with a full-throated endorsement — and a sharp critique of the state’s direction under Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
According to Fox News, Lamas told the outlet that he is supporting Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, arguing the state has suffered dramatically under its current leadership.
“The impact on the state of California with the current [Newsom] administration is nothing short of devastating,” he said.
Lamas admitted that he has long avoided weighing in publicly on politics, aware that speaking up can affect opportunities in the entertainment industry.
“Over the years I’ve been very careful about voicing an opinion politically,” he said. “Sometimes it can affect who you work for, depending on a company’s or studio’s political point of view.”
But he said the state’s problems — paired with what he sees as a lack of accountability — convinced him it was time to speak.
“I think we’re at a point now, not just in California, but I think nationwide, that we have to start at least voicing what we feel is wrong with what’s happening,” he explained.
Lamas argued California’s challenges are rooted in long-term mismanagement, despite the state’s vast wealth and natural resources. He described Democratic leadership as “a sickness that’s permeated the state from the top to the bottom.”
He pointed to homelessness, wasteful spending, and a lack of transparency over state-funded programs.
“We have to figure out what we’re going to do with the people that are disenfranchised and living on the streets,” he said. He questioned why “millions of dollars that are spent on welfare programs” are not reaching the people they are intended to help.
Lamas also spoke emotionally about the wildfires that devastated his childhood community in Pacific Palisades.
“I grew up in Pacific Palisades; that fire devastated my hometown,” he said. “The home I grew up in burned down. My elementary school burned down. Why? Because not enough budget was allocated to resources to fight the fire.”
He said residents who lost their homes now face years of red tape before they can rebuild, locking out families who have lived there for generations.
“There’s just so much red tape, so much bureaucracy, and Chad wants to just eliminate it,” he said.
Lamas said worsening crime has also shaped his support for Bianco, especially with two daughters living in Los Angeles.
“We’ve got to have a governor that’s pro-law enforcement, that’s going to keep our moms and our daughters safe on the streets,” he said. “I tell them every single day [that] their heads got to be on a swivel.”
Bianco, who has framed his campaign around the cost of living and public safety, faces steep odds. No Republican has won statewide office in California in nearly 20 years. On the Democratic side, Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter — both critics of President Donald Trump — are running to succeed Newsom, who is term-limited.
Still, Lamas said he believes voters are ready to make a dramatic shift.
“What I see in Chad is a tremendous gift of being able to present his agenda with a commonsense foundation, and that’s going to appeal to anybody with half of a brain,” he said.
“Last November 6th, America voted for commonsense. And I think it’s time that California votes for commonsense, and the only person that I really feel can bring that to our state is Chad Bianco.”
Asked about Lamas’ criticism, a Newsom spokesperson responded with a single word: “Who?”
Bianco, meanwhile, has already drawn support from other high-profile figures, including UFC legends Royce Gracie and Dan Henderson.
