{{Short description|American politician (born 1985)}} {{Use American English|date=November 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ian Calderon | image = Ian Calderon 2025 (cropped).jpg | caption = Calderon in 2025 | office = Majority Leader of the California Assembly | term_start = March 10, 2016 | term_end = November 30, 2020 | predecessor = Chris Holden | successor = Eloise Reyes | state_assembly1 = California | district1 = 57th | term_start1 = December 3, 2012 | term_end1 = November 30, 2020 | predecessor1 = Roger Hernández (redistricted) | successor1 = Lisa Calderon | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|10|19}} | birth_place = Whittier, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = {{marriage|Elise Lau|2015}} | children = 4 | relatives = Charles Calderon (father)<br>Lisa Calderon (stepmother)<br>Tom Calderon (uncle)<br>Ron Calderon (uncle) | education = California State University, Long Beach (BA) }} '''Ian Charles Calderon''' (born October 19, 1985) is an American politician who represented the 57th Assembly District in the California State Assembly from 2012 to 2020. A member of the Democratic Party, Calderon served as the Assembly Majority Leader from 2016 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/13395 |title=Ian C. Calderon |website=joincalifornia.com |access-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118172248/http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/13395 |url-status=live }}</ref>
He was briefly a candidate in the 2026 California gubernatorial election,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Nixon |first1=Nicole |title=Former California Assembly leader Ian Calderon jumps into governor's race |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article312228552.html |access-date=October 12, 2025 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=September 23, 2025}}</ref> but withdrew in March 2026. Afterward, he endorsed Eric Swalwell for governor,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2026-03-05 |title=Ian Calderon exits California governor's race, endorses Eric Swalwell |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/ian-calderon-exits-california-governors-race/103-868e55fd-4e51-493b-bfb2-2cb2c2b95dac |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=abc10.com |language=en-US}}</ref> however the endorsement was later retracted in light of sexual misconduct allegations made against Swalwell by a former staffer.<ref>https://x.com/iancalderon/status/2042710458738876666?s=46</ref>
==Early life and education== Ian Calderon was born on October 19, 1985. He is the son of former Assemblymember and State Senator Charles Calderon. His stepmother, Lisa Calderon, and uncle, Tom Calderon, were also members of the California State Assembly.<ref name="wtop_former-california-lawmaker">{{cite web |author=The Associated Press |title=Former California lawmaker, a millennial, joins the governor’s race |website=WTOP News |date=September 23, 2025 |url=https://wtop.com/parenting/2025/09/former-california-lawmaker-a-millennial-joins-the-governors-race/ |access-date=October 16, 2025}}</ref> His uncle Ron Calderon was a member of the California State Senate.
Calderon earned a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Long Beach.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former State Assemblymember Ian Calderon |website=LegiStorm |date=September 4, 2025 |url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/243280/Ian_Charles_Calderon.html |access-date=October 16, 2025}}</ref>
==Early career== Before holding elective office, Calderon worked as a field representative for state legislators.<ref name="latimes">{{cite web |last1=Mishak |first1=Michael J. |last2=Times |first2=Los Angeles |title=Assemblyman Calderon's son Ian aims to uphold political dynasty |website=Los Angeles Times |date=April 29, 2012 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2012-apr-29-la-me-calderon-20120429-story.html |access-date=October 16, 2025 |archive-date=January 12, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260112211413/https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2012-apr-29-la-me-calderon-20120429-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="futurecaucus">{{cite web |title=CA Assemb. Ian Calderon |website=Future Caucus |date=October 31, 2023 |url=https://futurecaucus.org/future-caucus/state-future-caucus-network/state-caucus-chairs/ian-calderon/ |access-date=October 16, 2025 |archive-date=October 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251011161411/https://futurecaucus.org/future-caucus/state-future-caucus-network/state-caucus-chairs/ian-calderon/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Legislative career== [[File:Ian Calderon 2011.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Calderon as a field representative for Roger Hernández in 2011.]] In 2012, Calderon was first elected to the California State Assembly representing the 57th District in Los Angeles County, making him the first millennial elected to the California Legislature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Millennial Democrat Ian Calderon announces bid for California governor |website=LAist |date=September 24, 2025 |url=https://laist.com/news/politics/millennial-democrat-ian-calderon-announces-bid-for-california-governor |access-date=October 16, 2025 |archive-date=November 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103233139/https://laist.com/news/politics/millennial-democrat-ian-calderon-announces-bid-for-california-governor |url-status=live }}</ref> He was re-elected in subsequent cycles (2014, 2016, 2018).<ref name="futurecaucus"/>
In March 2016, Calderon was chosen to become Majority Leader of the Assembly.<ref name="futurecaucus"/> He remained Majority Leader until the end of his Assembly tenure in 2020.<ref name="calmatters">{{cite web |last=Kuang |first=Jeanne |title=Millennial Democrat Ian Calderon announces bid for California governor |website=CalMatters |date=September 23, 2025 |url=https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/millennial-democrat-ian-calderon-announces-bid-for-california-governor/ |access-date=October 16, 2025 |archive-date=September 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250924230203/https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/09/millennial-democrat-ian-calderon-announces-bid-for-california-governor/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
He introduced AB 2658 in 2018, which created the California Blockchain Working Group to deliberate on blockchain, cryptocurrency, and related technology policy.<ref name="futurecaucus"/><ref name="calmatters"/><ref name="sacbee"/>
Calderon also supported increases in the state minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022, and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<ref name="futurecaucus"/>
During his Assembly tenure, he served as Chair of the Select Committee on Youth and California's Future, Co-Chair of the Legislative Technology & Innovation Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Legislative Millennial Caucus.<ref name="futurecaucus"/>
==Post-legislative career and gubernatorial candidacy== In November 2019, Calderon announced he would not seek re-election in 2020 in order to focus more on spending time with his family. He served out his term through late 2020.<ref name="calmatters"/>
His stepmother, Lisa Calderon, ran for and won his former Assembly seat in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Website |website=Assemblymember Lisa Calderon Representing California Assembly District 56 |url=https://a56.asmdc.org/biography |access-date=October 16, 2025 |archive-date=September 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250915123746/https://a56.asmdc.org/biography |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="calmatters"/>
After leaving office, Calderon founded a consulting and lobbying firm called Majority Advisors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ian Calderon - Majority Advisors |url=https://www.majorityadvisors.com/ian-calderon |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Majority Advisors |language=en-US}}</ref> The firm's name is a reference to is his tenure as Majority Leader.<ref name="sacbee">{{cite web |last=Nixon |first=Nicole |title=Former California Assembly leader Ian Calderon jumps into governor’s race |website=Sacramento Bee |date=September 23, 2025 |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article312228552.html |access-date=October 16, 2025}}</ref><ref name="calmatters"/>
In September 2025, Calderon officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 California gubernatorial election.<ref name=":0" /> In March 2026, he announced his withdrawal, and endorsed the campaign of Congressman Eric Swalwell.<ref name=":1" />
==Personal life== Calderon married Elise Calderon in 2015. They have four children. As of 2025, he resides in Orange County, California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Ian Calderon|url=https://www.ianforgovernor.com/meet-ian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260228015309/https://www.ianforgovernor.com/meet-ian|archive-date=2026-02-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Electoral history== ===2014 California State Assembly === {{see also|2014 California State Assembly election}} {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = California's 57th State Assembly district election, 2014 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Rita Topalian | votes = 15,859 | percentage = 52.2 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Ian Calderon (incumbent) | votes = 14,544 | percentage = 47.8 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 30,403 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Ian Calderon (incumbent) | votes = 32,284 | percentage = 51.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Rita Topalian | votes = 30,397 | percentage = 48.5 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 62,681 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}
===2016 California State Assembly === {{see also|2016 California State Assembly election}} {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = California's 57th State Assembly district election, 2016 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Ian Calderon (incumbent) | votes = 50,996 | percentage = 65.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Rita Topalian | votes = 26,639 | percentage = 34.3 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 77,635 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Ian Calderon (incumbent) | votes = 93,339 | percentage = 62.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Rita Topalian | votes = 55,577 | percentage = 37.3 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 148,916 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Democratic Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}}
===2018 California State Assembly === {{see also|2018 California State Assembly election}} {{Election box open primary begin no change | title = California's 57th State Assembly district election, 2018 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = Ian Calderon (incumbent) | votes = 27136 | percentage = 46.6 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Jessica Martinez | votes = 13824 | percentage = 23.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Oscar J. Llamas | votes = 9025 | percentage = 15.5 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = Justin Joshua Valero | votes = 6829 | percentage = 11.7 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = Blake Sullivan Carter | votes = 1393 | percentage = 2.4 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 57331 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = California Democratic Party | candidate = Ian Calderon (incumbent) | votes = 84159 | percentage = 64.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = California Republican Party | candidate = Jessica Martinez | votes = 45492 | percentage = 35.1 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 129651 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = California Democratic Party }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://a57.asmdc.org/article/biography}} * [https://www.ianforgovernor.com/ Campaign website] * [https://www.ianccalderon.com Majority Advisors website] * [https://ballotpedia.org/Ian_Charles_Calderon Ian Charles Calderon at ballotpedia.org] * [http://greginhollywood.com/thursday-morning-man-ian-calderon-166727 Photos] * [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/13395 Join California Ian Calderon]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ca-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Chris Holden}} {{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the California Assembly|years=2016–2020}} {{s-aft|after=Eloise Reyes}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calderon, Ian}} Category:1985 births Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature Category:American politicians of Mexican descent Ian Category:California State University, Long Beach, alumni Category:Candidates in the 2026 United States elections Category:Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in California Category:Living people