Former Assemblymember Enters Crowded Race
Former California Assemblymember Ian Calderon has officially launched his campaign for governor of California in 2026, positioning himself as a Bitcoin proponent in what’s shaping up to be a highly competitive race to replace Gavin Newsom. Calderon confirmed his bid in a social media post on Tuesday, framing his campaign around affordable housing, groceries, and gas prices while emphasizing his support for cryptocurrency.
“My generation pays bills on our phones, we send money to each other with Venmo and we save in Bitcoin — but the people running our government, they’re trying to use yesterday’s ideas to solve today’s problems, and it isn’t working,” Calderon stated. He positioned himself as representing a “new generation of leadership” for California.
Bitcoin as Central Campaign Theme
Calderon placed significant emphasis on Bitcoin in a separate post, arguing that “California has always been a leader on technology. It’s time for us to get back to our roots and make California the undisputed leader on Bitcoin.” This comes at a time when crypto-friendly policies have become more prominent in political campaigns, particularly after cryptocurrency lobbying groups emerged as major donors during the 2024 elections.
During a livestream, Calderon went even further, suggesting that “California should be holding Bitcoin on its balance sheet” and promising that “once I’m governor, I’m going to make sure that we hold Bitcoin on our balance sheet.” He also indicated he would push for California to accept Bitcoin as payment for state programs.
Political Background and Bitcoin Advocacy
Calderon entered California’s legislature in 2012 at just 27 years old, making him the youngest member at the time. He served until 2020, during which he led California’s Blockchain Working Group and helped lay the foundation for the state’s blockchain roadmap. Even after leaving politics, he remained active in cryptocurrency advocacy, working with Satoshi Action Fund CEO Dennis Porter in early 2022 to introduce a bill exploring Bitcoin as legal tender in California.
That proposal, however, has seen little progress since its introduction. California lawmakers have recently moved forward with legislation that would allow state agencies to accept cryptocurrency for payments, but the state hasn’t embraced Bitcoin reserves to the same extent as some other states.
Challenging Political Landscape
The 2026 gubernatorial election in California presents a significant challenge for Calderon. Polling currently shows former Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter as the frontrunner, followed by Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco and former FOX News contributor Steve Hilton. The race became more open when former Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed she wouldn’t run for the position.
California, with its $4.3 trillion economy and status as the most populous U.S. state, represents a major political prize. Calderon’s Bitcoin-focused campaign strategy reflects a growing trend of cryptocurrency becoming a legitimate political issue, though it remains to be seen whether this approach will resonate with California’s diverse electorate. The election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, giving candidates plenty of time to build their campaigns and refine their messaging.
