Ché Ahn Visiting Redding as Faith-Based Candidacy for Governor Gains Momentum

Ché Ahn, a Southern California pastor and political newcomer, is running for governor of California in 2026. He believes that God has called him to this task because the problems that California faces stem from spiritual darkness more than political malfeasance. He will be coming to meet the citizens of Redding on Saturday, November 15, invited by the Shasta County Republican Assembly. The event signals a growing interest in the North State for his faith-centered campaign.

Well known to the Charismatic Christian community, Ahn is more broadly known as the pastor who sued Governor Gavin Newsom during the Covid shutdown for the right to keep churches open. He won this case before the Supreme Court, but politics was not his aim. He tells the story that when the Lord said, “I want you to run for governor”, he said “Please, not that, Lord. I’m a pastor, I love revival, I love the church. I’ve never wanted to be a politician.”

That tells part of the story of this Korean immigrant who came to this country in the 60’s, joined the hippie movement, then found the Jesus People, and finally became a pastor in an ethnically diverse community in Los Angeles. After founding Harvest Rock Church in 1994, he led them freely until 2020 when Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration threatened pastors and fined churches simply for gathering in worship. At the time, he stated that “there has to be some resistance in this overreach” and “we really believe that we are doing what our First Amendment has given us a right…  to worship.”

It's important to understand the courage and vision that drive this man. When faced with stiff fines and possible imprisonment, Pastor Ché said, “I’m willing to go to jail for what I believe is my constitutional right and also for what I believe the Holy Spirit is asking me to do.”. This frames his commitment to honoring both the Constitution and the will of God, and these are the best ways to understand his political views.

Ahn’s commitment to God is obvious, but what kind of Governor would he be for California? As a man of high visibility but no previous political experience, we need to look at his public statements about the problems facing California and the solutions that he is proposing. He views the crises facing California as “spiritual before political”. Our state’s problems result not just from bad policy but from a loss of moral direction that allowed us to drift. He recently opined, “When peaceful believers gathered in prayer during a pandemic, we were called threats. When rioters loot businesses and burn the city, they are met with tolerance or outright encouragement.”

Ahn makes no apologies for his faith. He believes that an educated and motivated church is essential to proper governance in California. On a Truth and Liberty video, he stated, ” God is calling believers not only to the church mountain but to the government mountain. Civic engagement is spiritual obedience.”

He also believes that government is there to protect the rights of all citizens, not just people of faith. He often cites Romans 13, a Bible verse declaring that “government is instituted by God to uphold justice and restrain evil. When a government inverts that mandate — punishing the righteous while protecting the lawless — it abdicates its moral authority.” He places ultimate value on the moral relationship between the government and the governed.

Policy and Vision for Governance

Ché Ahn is not your typical candidate. His career does parallel that of Mike Huckabee, a well-known pastor who became governor of Arkansas and now serves as the US Ambassador to Israel. But voters need to know how this man of faith will govern. Here are the major pillars of his campaign,  announced since launching his campaign:

• Religious Liberty: Protect churches from future shutdowns; expand faith-based access to state programs.

• Parental Rights and Education: Oppose gender ideology in schools, promote school choice, and emphasize parental consent.

• Law and Order: End “selective justice,” support law enforcement, restore prosecutorial integrity.

• Pro-Life Advocacy: Redirect funding from abortion to adoption and maternal care.

• Economic Reform: Roll back regulations, cut red tape, and oppose “Marxist economics.”

• Immigration: Support legal immigration while emphasizing law and safety.

To those outside his faith, Ché Ahn’s campaign may look like a theological crusade. He would say that it is a logical extension of living to serve others at the highest level of integrity, humility, and courage. From the streets of 1970s Los Angeles to the pulpit, and now to politics, his narrative follows one through-line — transformation is possible if someone dares to believe it is. He offers an alternative to a sterile, political formula, focusing on moral clarity, societal revival, and public service. A Korean American with deep roots in California, he understands the social issues that are impacting our communities. He believes that a message of personal responsibility, governmental accountability, and moral integrity will be the sound foundation we need to bring unity, stability, and prosperity back to our Golden State.

Shasta County residents will have the opportunity to hear Ché Ahn in person and decide for themselves what kind of governor he might be. The Shasta County Republican Assembly will host a Meet & Greet with Ché Ahn on Saturday, November 15, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Donaldson Fine Art Center, 1232 Center Drive, Redding. The event is open to the public. More information is available at www.che4ca.com.