Exclusive: X-games legend says democrats left California in ruins, endorses GOP gov candidate

American motocross star Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg announced his endorsement for California’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco on Thursday, telling the Daily Caller News Foundation he believes Bianco can clean up the “mess” Democrats have created.

California’s jungle primary is nearly five months away, with the race heating up between Democrats and Republicans as the top two GOP gubernatorial candidates have consistently led in polls. Stenberg, who competed in the X Games between 1999 and 2016, is the latest well-known state figure to come forward and call out Democrats for the lack of leadership in recent years, backing a GOP candidate.

“I love California, but I hate what our politicians have done to it. During COVID, business owners were losing everything while Gavin Newsom partied with celebrities. Meanwhile, the one guy who cared was Sheriff Bianco,” Stenberg told the DCNF. “We need Chad Bianco to clean up the mess that career politicians have created.”

“He’s the real deal, someone who actually cares about the people he serves,” Stenberg added. “I worry about where California is headed if we don’t elect Chad as governor.”

Born and raised in Southern California, Stenberg became a motocross pro in the late 1990s, garnering wins at the Vans Triple Crown championship and securing first place in the Las Vegas LXD Freestyle and Step Up events in 1998.

By the early 2000s, Stenberg landed the first-ever natural terrain backflip, earning his first gold at the X Games in 2005 for Best Trick. The now 44-year-old’s 2005 win kickstarted a flurry of Best Whip titles at the X Games and other accomplishments before he transitioned to off-road racing in the mid-2000s.

After his sports accomplishments, Stenberg went on to other passions, including founding the youth-oriented Dirt Bike Kidz brand in 2012 and producing full-length freeriding videos. Notably, Stenberg and others who were part of a motocross riders’ group called the Metal Mulisha announced their turn to faith, becoming born-again Christians in 2009, according to The New York Times.

Election polls for the 2026 governor’s race have shown Bianco and fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton consistently leading Democratic candidates like Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Rep. Katie Porter.

A recent survey from Public Policy Polling between Jan. 20-21 showed Bianco leading candidates at 18% support among the 1,001 registered voters surveyed, according to The New York Times. Bianco additionally led another January poll conducted by David Binder Research, with Bianco leading Hilton by three points as he sat at 17% out of 800 likely voters, the outlet reported.

On June 2, California will hold its nonpartisan top-two primary election, meaning voters throughout the state can pick any candidate regardless of party preference. The top two candidates in June will advance to the general election in November.

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