On August 2nd, Evangelical Korean-American pastor Ché Ahn announced his bid for the 2026 California governorship outside the Harvest Rock Church in Pasadena, Los Angeles, with support from his church, community groups, and family.
Ché Ahn previously joined 150 churches in a lawsuit against California Governor Newsom for unconstitutional church closure policies during the pandemic. In 2021, a settlement agreement approved by the Supreme Court ensured Americans’ rights to worship as granted by the Constitution. The first plaintiff, Pastor Art Hodges of the Southern California “United Pentecostal International Church,” stated, “We are here for faith, family, freedom, and the future… President John Adams said our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. The failures in morality, loyalty, and leadership at the top in California have brought chaos.”
Ché Ahn recounted a dream from two days prior where his campaign director Michelle Martinez reminded him not to forget to tell jokes about distinguishing between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean people. He humorously said, “If you see a seemingly wealthy country, that’s the Chinese who want to dominate the world; if you see a seemingly smart country, that’s the Japanese; if you see a seemingly handsome country, that’s the Koreans.”
Reflecting on his father’s arrest by Kim Il-sung in 1950 due to being a pastor, Ché Ahn shared a piece of family history where his father, a believer in the Baptist Church, was released and came to the United States during the Korean War. His father’s experiences shaped Ahn’s view of America as the best country in the world, hoping California could become the best state.
Ché Ahn, whose wife is from the Philippines, and they have four children and numerous grandchildren, emphasized the importance of faith, saying, “We give praise and glory to Jesus, and it is by God’s grace that people like us, who carry reverence in our hearts, can run for office.”
He further discussed his spiritual journey, acknowledging past struggles with drugs and dropping out of high school. Finding solace in God led him to overcome addiction and pursue a fulfilling life with a loving family. Since 1994, he and his wife have served as pastors at Harvest Rock Church, engaging in mission work in 73 countries.
Regarding financial matters, Ahn shared a successful investment journey that started with founding the “Joseph Storehouse” company on a financial adviser’s recommendation. Through God’s grace, their business endeavors yielded significantly more than his church salary.
When it comes to California’s economic policies, Ché Ahn expressed concerns about extreme measures such as the mandated use of electric cars by 2035, which could burden residents with high costs. He highlighted the need to support existing oil refineries to maintain affordability and prevent a detrimental impact on living expenses.
If elected, Ahn pledged to instigate a national prayer banquet as his first act, emphasizing the importance of humble prayer for healing and restoration in the state. He stressed the significance of faith, family values, and responsible governance for a prosperous and cohesive California.