Former California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon from Whittier, Southern California, has announced his candidacy for the 2026 gubernatorial election to succeed the outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.
At 39 years old, Calderon hails from one of California’s most influential political families, despite some recent setbacks within the family.
The Democratic candidate, who values family, stated that his decision to run is to represent the voice of the younger generation. In a campaign video released on September 23, Calderon said, “California hasn’t done enough for our generation. We pay bills with our phones, transfer money with Venmo, and even invest in Bitcoin. Yet, the decision-makers are still using outdated ideas to solve today’s problems, which simply doesn’t work.”
In the video, his wife Elise shared that for their generation, California is no longer the dreamland it once was, with many families feeling like the California dream has turned into a narrative rather than reality.
Calderon served as a state assemblyman from 2012 to 2020 and at the age of 30 in 2016, he became the youngest Majority Leader in state history, representing parts of San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County. In 2020, he announced his retirement to spend more time with his wife and two children.
“For the past five years, I’ve been taking care of my children, starting my own business, and living in the real world, watching as families in our state struggle more and more,” he said on the 23rd, pointing out issues like exorbitant childcare costs, stagnant wages, the nation’s highest gas prices, and the unattainability of homeownership.
Calderon added that he does not believe California’s problems can be solved through the partisan wrangling in Washington, stating, “I am a Democrat, but I do not take orders from anyone, and I do not always agree with my party. I am a Democrat who supports working families, small businesses, and common-sense solutions, not the political extremism that hinders California’s progress.”
Calderon is the son of former Democratic Majority Leader in the State Assembly and Senate, Charles Calderon. His stepmother, Lisa Calderon, currently serves as a state assemblywoman, filling the position he originally held.
His two uncles, former Democratic Assemblyman Tom Calderon and former State Senator Ron Calderon, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in 2016, being indicted by a federal grand jury in 2014. Ron faced 24 charges, involving receiving a total of $150,000 in bribes and kickbacks, with charges including fraud, bribery, and money laundering. Tom was accused of assisting his brother in money laundering through his political consulting firm and a non-profit organization called “Californians for Diversity.”
Federal prosecutors highlighted that the brothers used their positions of power for personal gain. Tom Calderon ultimately admitted to helping conceal the bribes and was sentenced to one year and a day in federal investigation. Ron Calderon was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
After leaving the Sacramento legislature, Ian Calderon established his own political consulting firm, “Majority Advisors,” which he currently operates. He is competing with several well-known Democrats and some rising Republicans for the gubernatorial position this year.
According to the latest polls, Democratic candidate Katie Porter from Irvine leads the support, followed by Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Republican commentator Steve Hilton from Palo Alto.
Other competitive candidates include California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former State Controller Betty Yee, former State Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. ◇