The race to be California’s next governor entered a new chapter this week.

Toni Atkins, a veteran lawmaker with decades of influence in Sacramento, has stepped aside. In her place, Ian Calderon, bringing the restless energy of a 39-year-old millennial eager to reimagine the state’s future, has jumped into the contest. The shakeup reflects both the end of one political era and the beginning of another, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most exciting primaries in recent California history.

A Legacy Leader Steps Aside

Atkins, who served as both Speaker of the Assembly and later as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, has long been recognized as one of California’s most accomplished Democratic leaders. She was the first female Senate president pro tem and made history as the first openly LGBTQ person to sign bills into California law. Atkins authored the legislation that became Proposition 1 in 2022, which codified abortion rights in the California Constitution after the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back national protections. She is a champion for universal health care and in the legislature she pushed to speed up housing construction. She secured early support for her campaign from the state's carpenters union due to her pro-housing stance. 

Atkins’ personal story inspires many. Growing up in rural Virginia, Atkins said she often felt “too country, too poor, too gay” to belong. After moving west, she built a life in California, where she found acceptance and opportunity. She spent the next decades trying to expand what she called “the promise of California” so future generations could benefit as she had.

Despite her trailblazing record and an impressive campaign war chest of $4.2 million, Atkins told her supporters there was “no viable path forward to victory.” 

In a heartfelt letter, she explained her decision. “That is why it is with such a heavy heart that I am stepping aside today as a candidate for governor,” she wrote. She pledged to continue fighting for California’s future and urged Democrats to unite.

Her departure from the governor’s race follows that of Kamala Harris and Eleni Kounalakis.

Calderon Steps Forward

Into that space steps 39-year-old Ian Calderon. He is the first millennial ever elected to the California Assembly and at just 30 years old, he became the youngest and longest-serving Majority Leader in state history. After representing Whittier and nearby Southern California communities from 2012 until 2020, he left politics for five years to focus on his family.

“For the last five years, I have been raising my kids, building a business, and living in the real world, watching everyday life in our state get harder for families like mine,” Calderon said.

Calderon may carry a famous political name, but his message is about breaking from the old mold with a new generation of leadership that values common sense above extremes.

“The people running our government? They are trying to use yesterday’s ideas to solve today’s problems and it is not working,” he said. “We need a new generation of leadership, one that listens, adapts, gets results.”

Calderon is underscoring his independence within the Democratic Party. “I am a Democrat, but I do not take marching orders from anyone and I certainly do not always agree with my party,” he said. He describes his politics as focused on “commonsense solutions, not the political extremes holding California back.”

“Our politics are sure as hell not going to be solved by listening to Republicans and Democrats fighting in Washington D.C.,” he said in his launch video.

“And that’s okay,” chimes in Elise Calderon, his wife. “In this house we don’t always agree on everything.”

Tech and Bitcoin

Calderon appears to be making California technology and innovation a pillar of his campaign. 

In his first post to X following the announcement, he declared his vision for the Golden State to become “the undisputed leader on Bitcoin,” a message he also reiterated in his campaign video.

In 2022, he worked with Dennis Porter, CEO of the Satoshi Action Fund, to introduce a bill that explored whether Bitcoin could be recognized as legal tender in California.

AP reported that in a social media livestream called “Crypto Town Hall,” Calderon said he would advocate for allowing the state to use cryptocurrency like bitcoin to pay for various state programs. “Once I’m governor, I’m going to make sure that we hold bitcoin on our balance sheet,” Calderon said.

As Democratic Majority Leader, he co-chaired the California Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus, whose stated mission is to keep the state a global leader by promoting innovation, supporting tech industry growth, creating jobs, and preparing the next generation to lead.

Tackling California’s Cost of Living Woes

Beyond technology, Calderon is emphasizing affordability as the central challenge for California families. He has promised to tackle high child care costs, keep “corporations and foreign investors” from outbidding first-time homebuyers, and ease the burden of housing. His message is crafted to resonate with young parents, small business owners, and working Californians who feel squeezed.

“Childcare costs are out of control, paychecks aren’t keeping up with the cost of living, gas prices are the highest in the nation. And now, buying a home is becoming out of reach…California is not doing enough for us.”

A Competitive Field

Calderon joins an already competitive field of Democrats, Republicans and Independents vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. Other notable Democratic contenders for the top spot include U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former Rep. Katie Porter, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former State Controller Betty Yee, and businessman Stephen Cloobeck. On the Republican side, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and commentator Steve Hilton have declared their candidacies, with speculation swirling around developer Rick Caruso and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla. Ethan Penner, a Calabasas businessman, is running as an independent to “disrupt the failing two-party system.”

The California Primary is Eight Months from Today

The primary election is set for June 2, 2026. California voters are lucky. When they choose their next governor, they will do so under a system that ensures no spoilers, no wasted votes, and a guaranteed majority winner. Thanks to the state’s nonpartisan top two primary, every candidate appears on the same ballot, and the top two finishers advance to November. That means every candidate must appeal not only to their base but also to independents and crossover voters to secure a spot on the final ballot. And no matter how crowded the field, Californians always end up with a winner who has earned a majority of the votes. 

With Atkins’ exit and Calderon’s entry, the race takes on new energy. One veteran Democrat is stepping aside despite prominent endorsement and millions left in her account, while a young father with political roots and a tech-driven vision is stepping forward to challenge a wide field of seasoned rivals.

For voters, the next nine months promise to be dynamic, competitive, and full of choices. The question will be whether Californians are ready to turn the page toward a new generation of leadership, or whether they will favor the tested experience of more established figures. Either way, the state’s top job is wide open, and the contest to claim it is just beginning.