Veteran actor John Ratzenberger, best known for his role on “Cheers” and for voicing iconic characters in Pixar films, is now reportedly weighing into California’s high-stakes gubernatorial race by throwing his support behind Republican candidate Chad Bianco and sharply criticizing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership.
As California’s June primary approaches, the contest for governor is gaining momentum, with endorsements rolling in from political figures and public personalities alike. Ratzenberger, who has spent decades working in Hollywood, is the latest to step forward. He is widely recognized for playing Cliff Clavin on the hit sitcom Cheers and for lending his voice to beloved Pixar movies including Toy Story, Cars, and Monsters, Inc.
In a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Ratzenberger reflected on Newsom’s handling of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic and said he believes Bianco is the only candidate capable of repairing the damage. Ratzenberger said that while he has spent years traveling the country advocating for the revival of American manufacturing, he watched California’s leadership move in the opposite direction.
Ratzenberger accused Newsom of prioritizing celebrity culture while businesses across the state were forced to shut their doors. He contrasted that approach with Bianco’s record as sheriff, saying Bianco showed common sense during the lockdowns by refusing to arrest people who kept their businesses open. According to Ratzenberger, that decision demonstrated a clear understanding of the pressures facing working families and small business owners.
California imposed some of the most prolonged COVID-19 restrictions in the nation under Newsom’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” tier system. While many states, including those led by Democrats, lifted stay-at-home orders by May 2020, California maintained its tier system until June 2021. The extended shutdowns took a toll, particularly on small businesses and workers, and coincided with a significant population decline.
Between April 2020 and July 2022, California lost roughly 500,000 residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2024. Although the state later regained about 67,000 residents, the California Department of Finance warned last year that growth is expected to be slower going forward.
Newsom’s administration has also faced scrutiny over California’s unpaid pandemic unemployment debt to the federal government. The state remains the only one that has not repaid that obligation. In addition, the Employment Development Department drew criticism in 2021 for its estimates of fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments.
Ratzenberger argued that it will take Bianco’s background and experience to address what he described as years of crime and corruption in the state. He has previously voiced support for President Donald Trump, telling Fox News Digital in 2024 that both he and Trump share a commitment to bringing jobs and manufacturing back to the United States, particularly in an era marked by a shortage of skilled workers.
The 2026 California gubernatorial race is already crowded, with roughly eight prominent Democrats and two Republicans, including Bianco, in the field. Polling suggests a competitive landscape. A December Emerson College Polling and Inside California Politics survey showed Bianco leading with 13 percent support, narrowly ahead of Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell at 12 percent, former Fox News host Steve Hilton at 12 percent, and former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter at 11 percent.
With endorsements like Ratzenberger’s now entering the race, the battle over California’s future is only intensifying.
