Former California Congress member and Bitcoin advocate Ian Calderon launched a California governor’s campaign in 2026, taking part in a crowded, competitive race to replace Gavin Newsom.
Calderon confirmed his bid for the governor in a post on Tuesday on X, positioning most of his promises about affordable homes, groceries and gas as supporters of Bitcoin (BTC).
“My generation pays bills on our phones, we send each other money and save Bitcoin, but the people who run the government are trying to use yesterday’s ideas to solve today’s problems.
It’s time for a new generation of California leadership. pic.twitter.com/wmxijcc1j1
– Ian Calderon (@iancalderon) September 23, 2025
Calderon, with a special emphasis on Bitcoin in another X-Post, said, “California has always been a leader in technology. Now is the time to return to its roots and make California an uncontroversial leader in Bitcoin.”
Federal and state-level lawmakers have made more broad promises of crypto-friendly policies in their campaigns after the crypto lobby appeared as a top donor during the 2024 election, spending millions on successful bids from Donald Trump and multiple lawmakers.
Calderon joined the California Legislature in 2012 at the age of 27, making him the youngest member at the time. He served until 2020, leading the California blockchain working group and laid the foundation for the state’s blockchain roadmap.
California is the most populous US state with an economy of $4.3 trillion. State lawmakers have recently advanced a bill that allows state agencies to accept crypto for payments, but have not seen the same level of support and progress as other states.
Calderon suggests the promise of the state’s Bitcoin Reserve
During the X live stream, Calderon said he believes “California should hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet.”
“If I were governor, I’ll make sure I have Bitcoin on my balance sheet,” he added.
Calderon also said it would push California to use Bitcoin as a payment method for its state program.
Calderon faces fierce competition
California will go to vote for the governor election on November 3, 2026. Calderon is a long shot to win as some more established candidates compete to take over Newsom, who can’t seek reelection at the end of the second term.
The race opened in late July, with former vice president Kamala Harris confirming that she will not run for the position.
Related: California moves forward invoices to accept crypto for state payments
The vote shows former Democrat Katie Porter is now frontrunner and run as a Republican, Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Republican political adviser Steve Hilton, a Fox News contributor.
Calderon wanted Bitcoin as fiat currency in California
While out of politics for the past five years, Calderon worked with Dennis Porter, CEO of Satoshi Action Fund, to introduce a bill in early 2022 to explore Bitcoin as a legal currency.
However, the proposal has made little or no progress since.
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