Former California Assemblymember Ian Calderon has entered the race to become the state’s next governor, joining a growing list of Democratic candidates seeking to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom when his term ends in January 2027.
Calderon, who is 39 years old, previously served as the youngest majority leader in California’s history. He highlighted his generational perspective as a key part of his campaign. “California should be the best place in the world to raise a family, buy a home and build a future, but to get there, we need a new generation of leadership,” Calderon said.
He was first elected to the Assembly at age 27 in 2012 and did not seek reelection in 2020 so he could spend more time with his family. In his campaign announcement video shared on social media, Calderon said he would focus on addressing gas prices, housing affordability and child care costs if elected governor.
Other Democrats already in the race include former Biden administration Health Secretary Xavier Becerra, former U.S. House member Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the Republican side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton have announced their candidacies.
Calderon also expressed support for integrating technology into state government operations. During an online event called “Crypto Town Hall,” he stated: “Once I’m governor, I’m going to make sure that we hold bitcoin on our balance sheet.”
Democrats currently have a significant advantage among registered voters in California—nearly double that of Republicans—and have held all statewide offices for almost two decades.
