{"id":11430,"date":"2026-05-27T23:07:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T23:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=11430"},"modified":"2026-05-27T23:07:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T23:07:14","slug":"facial-hair-takes-role-in-california-governors-race-shows-strength","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?p=11430","title":{"rendered":"Facial hair takes role in California governor&#8217;s race: &#8216;Shows strength&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <div style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: 300px 160px; gap: 2px; width: 460px; background: #eee; padding: 2px;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u6574\u884c\u5bbd\u5e7f\u544a -->\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876674\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"grid-column: 1\/-1; width: 460px; height: 90px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876676\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <!-- \u5de6\u4fa7\u7ad6\u6392 -->\r\n  <div style=\"height: 250px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async type=\"application\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/a.magsrv.com\/ad-provider.js\"><\/script> \r\n <ins class=\"eas6a97888e2\" data-zoneid=\"5876672\"><\/ins> \r\n <script>(AdProvider = window.AdProvider || []).push({\"serve\": {}});<\/script>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n  <div style=\"height: 500px; background: #ccc; display: grid; place-items: center;\">\r\n  <script async 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{}});<\/script>\r\n<\/div><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>California\u2019s governor\u2019s race has taken a bizarre turn, and it\u2019s all about facial hair.<\/p>\n<p>For the first time since the Great Depression, voters could send a bearded or mustachioed candidate to the governor\u2019s mansion, turning facial hair into an unexpectedly toxic political flashpoint in one of the nation\u2019s biggest elections.<\/p>\n<p>Republican rivals Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton are now battling over everything from crime and homelessness to mustache styles and beard authenticity as they fight for a spot in the June 2 primary\u2019s top two.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican gubernatorial candidate. <span class=\"credit\">MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff known for his thick salt-and-pepper mustache, has embraced the attention surrounding his trademark look.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters argue the facial hair projects toughness and authority, qualities California voters are craving.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton poses for a portrait. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>His allies have also taken direct aim at Hilton, accusing the former political commentator of growing a beard purely to compete with Bianco\u2019s upper lip.<\/p>\n<p>Hilton\u2019s gray-speckled beard quickly drew national attention after Donald Trump Jr. praised it online as a \u201cMAGA beard,\u201d but Bianco supporters dismissed the look as forced and unimpressive compared to the sheriff\u2019s longtime mustache.<\/p>\n<p>Bianco has claimed Hilton only grew the beard to rival the mustache he has worn since his teenage years.<\/p>\n<p>Hilton insists the beard wasn\u2019t part of some political strategy.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Shaving foam on a man\u2019s hand. <span class=\"credit\">Towfiqu Barbhuiya  \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to Hilton, he stopped shaving during a family vacation, received positive feedback about the stubble and decided to keep it for campaign appearances after noticing strong reactions from voters.<\/p>\n<p>He said he\u2019s given \u201cliterally zero thought\u201d to Bianco\u2019s mustache, though he acknowledged critics have compared the sheriff\u2019s look to Yosemite Sam, according to The Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n<p>The facial-hair feud has become so intense that even Bianco\u2019s grooming style is under debate.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California. <span class=\"credit\">Josh Edelson for CA Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some supporters classify it as a walrus mustache resembling the ones famously worn by Wilford Brimley and Theodore Roosevelt.<\/p>\n<p>Others insist it falls closer to a horseshoe mustache similar to Hulk Hogan\u2019s signature style.<\/p>\n<p>Historian Sean Trainor, whose dissertation \u201cGroomed for Power\u201d examined the rise of political facial hair in the 19th century, said the country is entering \u201cthis kind of new bearded age,\u201d the WSJ reported.<\/p>\n<p>The timing is notable.<\/p>\n<p>California has not elected a governor with facial hair since Republican James \u201cSunny Jim\u201d Rolph, whose toothbrush mustache appeared in his official portrait before he died in office in 1934.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Cali - Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia&#8217;s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Republican candidate Chad Bianco. <span class=\"credit\">AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Rolph\u2019s era marked the tail end of facial hair\u2019s dominance in American politics, a trend once epitomized by President Rutherford B. Hayes and his famously massive beard.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the look appears to be making a comeback nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>Vice President JD Vance became the first facial-haired VP in nearly a century after President Trump compared his beard to a \u201cyoung Abraham Lincoln.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The last vice president with facial hair was Charles Curtis under Herbert Hoover.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>Ex-Biden staffer Xavier Becerra. <span class=\"credit\">REUTERS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Early polling suggested Bianco and Hilton were nearly tied and both could advance out of the primary.<\/p>\n<p>More recent polls now show Hilton leading alongside Democrat Xavier Becerra, setting up the possibility that California voters in November could face a choice between scruff and a clean shave.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn<br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X<br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong>Opinion <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><!-- \u603b\u5bb9\u5668\uff1a\u6700\u5927\u5bbd908px Grid\u7d27\u51d1\u5e03\u5c40 -->\r\n<div style=\"display: grid; 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For&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11431,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[581,10942,5751,718,2504,3926,249,10856,1129],"class_list":["post-11430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-california","tag-facial","tag-governors","tag-hair","tag-race","tag-role","tag-shows","tag-strength","tag-takes"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff.jpg",1200,799,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-768x511.jpg",640,426,true],"large":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-1024x682.jpg",640,426,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff.jpg",1200,799,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff.jpg",1200,799,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-1115x715.jpg",1115,715,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-1024x682.jpg",1024,682,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stacheoff-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/?cat=349\" rel=\"category\">Blog<\/a>","tag_info":"Blog","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11430","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11430"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11430\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/8657085.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}