Motocross champion and Metal Mulisha founder Brian Deegan has announced his endorsement of Republican candidate Chad Bianco in the California gubernatorial race, citing what he describes as the deterioration of the California dream under Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership.
Deegan, a pioneer in extreme sports and multiple-time X Games competitor, stated that the Golden State has fundamentally changed from the land of opportunity he once knew. “People used to come to California to try to build their business and chase that dream. And now, people are moving out of California to chase the same dream,” Deegan explained in a recent interview.
The action sports entrepreneur built his career and business empire in California, achieving success as a supercross star and creating the influential Metal Mulisha brand within the action sports community. However, he now watches what he calls a steady decline in the state’s fortunes.
Among Deegan’s primary concerns is the deterioration of public safety in California communities. He pointed to what he characterizes as lax enforcement of existing laws, which has made previously safe neighborhoods increasingly dangerous. “A lot of places that I’ve lived in California have really gone the wrong way. And I’m like, man, I’m scared to even have my kids really roam the streets nowadays because how loose they are on the laws and letting criminals get away with almost everything,” Deegan said.
The motocross star also criticized what he described as excessive government regulation that has stifled the entrepreneurial spirit California once embodied. He expressed particular frustration with the state’s response to the COVID pandemic, noting that California implemented some of the nation’s most restrictive lockdown measures while Newsom himself was photographed at social gatherings.
“Newsom was way overbearing while he’s out partying, still living the high life, while everyone’s on lockdowns,” Deegan remarked, reflecting on the pandemic policies that kept businesses shuttered and residents confined to their homes.
With Newsom term-limited as governor and speculation mounting about a potential 2028 presidential campaign, Deegan expressed confidence that such a bid would face significant headwinds. “I think that’s going to make it that much easier for the Republicans to keep that spot,” he said. “That’d be a tough road, Newsom running for president.”
Deegan’s endorsement of Bianco, a pro-law enforcement Republican candidate, reflects his belief that California requires new leadership to restore what made the state attractive to entrepreneurs and families. “It’s time for a man like Chad Bianco to take control of California,” Deegan stated.
The action sports icon also questioned how politicians like Newsom achieve power in the first place, suggesting they have lost touch with ordinary Californians. “I always kind of wonder how guys that are in power, such as Newsom, like how do they even get in power? Because they don’t really represent the common people that really are the majority of California,” he said.
Deegan’s public endorsement adds a notable voice from the sports and entertainment world to the Republican gubernatorial campaign, bringing attention to concerns about public safety, economic opportunity, and government overreach that resonate with many California voters who have watched their state transform in recent years.
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