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California Insider Interviews Gubernatorial Candidate Pastor Ché Ahn

Takeaways (Table of Contents)

Why is Pastor Ché Ahn running for California governor in 2026?

Q: Pastor Ché Ahn, why are you running for California governor—what changed, and why now?
A: He says he never planned to run for office and that it wasn’t “on his radar” after decades in ministry. He describes waking up early on April 28 (2:22 a.m.) and believing God called him to “lay down everything” to serve California. He acknowledges the political uphill climb for a conservative Republican pastor, but says his motivation is to bring “revival,” “reformation,” and spiritual climate change alongside policy change.

What are the biggest problems in California right now—poverty, homelessness, and “brokenness”?

Q: What problems do you see in California today—especially poverty and homelessness?
A: He points to what he describes as widespread brokenness, high poverty, and a growing homelessness crisis. He cites large spending totals on homelessness over multiple years while claiming outcomes have worsened, including increases in homelessness and deaths on the street. He argues the issue isn’t solved by spending alone and frames it as both a policy and spiritual problem, saying he wants to mobilize prayer and civic engagement to support better leadership and better outcomes.

What does “biblical justice” and “compassionate justice” mean in public policy?

Q: You talk about “compassionate justice” and “biblical justice.” What do you mean by that in governance and law?
A: He distinguishes what he calls “biblical justice” from modern political framings of “social justice,” emphasizing equal application of the law regardless of wealth or status (his “Lady Justice” illustration). He says justice requires upholding the law while also caring for people—serving Democrats and Republicans, rich and poor, across ethnic groups. He ties this to leadership character, arguing California needs leaders with integrity, servant-heartedness, and accountability.

How would he address public safety, crime, and Proposition 47 / Proposition 36 enforcement?

Q: What would you do about crime, public safety, and enforcement—especially Proposition 47 and Proposition 36?
A: He says Californians want safety and claims people are leaving the state in part because they don’t feel safe. He argues for stronger enforcement of Proposition 36 and says that, as governor, he would push district attorneys to allocate funds and enforce it. He frames public safety as part of restoring “peace” statewide and says the goal is consistent enforcement of laws voters supported.

What’s his critique of California’s wildfire response (LA fires) and accountability?

Q: How do you evaluate the state and local response to major California wildfires—especially the LA-area fires?
A: He calls the response “a mess” and highlights what he describes as mismanagement, broken infrastructure, and a failure to prepare for a known high-risk region. He also emphasizes the slow pace of rebuilding and argues the situation reflects a broader accountability problem in leadership. He connects this to his call for “righteous” (i.e., principled and competent) leadership and stronger public oversight.

What’s his homelessness plan—faith-based nonprofits, mental health care, and enforcement?

Q: What would you change about California’s homelessness strategy—what’s working, what’s not, and what would you do instead?
A: He shares personal testimony of having been homeless and addicted in the past, then describes a faith-driven transformation. Policy-wise, he argues the state needs better tracking, accountability, and outcomes—saying audits showed major gaps in responsibility and documentation. He proposes shifting more funding and implementation to effective private-sector nonprofits (including faith-based organizations) with strong track records, citing programs that combine recovery, life skills, and job readiness.

He also separates homelessness into different needs:

  • Those who are poor but not addicted/mentally ill: he supports a “safety net” and temporary housing while they stabilize and return to work.
  • Those with addiction and/or severe mental illness: he argues for expanded treatment capacity, including hospitals and institutions, and more structured programs.
  • Those committing crimes (e.g., selling drugs) and refusing help: he says he would enforce the law, including arrest and incarceration—while also advocating rehabilitation supports in prisons (chaplaincy and re-entry programs) to reduce recidivism.

What policies does he propose to reduce poverty and cost of living (energy, oil, and nuclear power)?

Q: How would you lower cost of living in California—gas prices, electricity bills, and poverty driven by energy policy?
A: He argues energy policy is a primary driver of rising costs—fuel, utilities, and food prices—especially for working families. He says that on “day one” he would prioritize expanding in-state oil production, reducing what he views as excessive regulation, and encouraging refineries and energy businesses to remain in (or return to) California.

He also advocates for nuclear energy development, arguing future growth (including AI and tech) requires far more reliable power than wind/solar alone. He frames his approach as “common sense,” emphasizing affordability, reliability, and economic competitiveness while calling for balance in climate-related policy decisions.

How would he improve California education (rankings, basics, charter schools, homeschool support)?

Q: Why is California falling in education rankings, and what would you do as governor to improve math and reading outcomes?
A: He argues schools are drifting away from fundamentals and spending too much focus on hot-button cultural issues rather than core academics. He emphasizes foundational skills—especially math basics—and says California should return to being “number one” in education outcomes.

He also supports expanding school choice options, including charter schools, and proposes financial support mechanisms for homeschooling families (framing it as fairness since they pay education taxes while using different schooling). He argues competition would pressure the system to improve, and he shares that his own family chose homeschooling due to concerns about school content.

What does he say about parental rights in schools and bills like AB 1955?

Q: What’s your stance on parental rights in education, student privacy policies, and legislation like AB 1955?
A: He argues parents should remain the primary authority responsible for raising children and says the state has overreached. He criticizes policies he believes reduce parent involvement or notification, and he says one of his early priorities would be restoring parental rights and increasing transparency in school settings.

Why did he sue Governor Newsom over COVID church shutdowns, and what was the outcome?

Q: You became nationally known for resisting COVID-era church shutdowns. What happened, and what did the lawsuit accomplish?
A: He says he believed executive orders that restricted in-person worship violated constitutional protections for religious freedom. He describes reopening his church and then receiving legal threats and fines. He chose to sue, says he lost in lower courts and at the Ninth Circuit, and then claims the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court—where he says he ultimately won, including a monetary settlement. He frames the experience as proof that he can withstand political pressure and legal opposition.

What is the “Million Ekklesia” prayer strategy he wants across California districts?

Q: What is the “Million Ekklesia” plan, and how does it connect faith, civic engagement, and statewide change?
A: He describes building a statewide network of small prayer groups (“two or three”) meeting regularly to pray for California and for elected officials by name (state senate and assembly districts). He says the goal is to bless leaders, ask for wisdom, and change the “spiritual climate” alongside cultural and policy reform—creating a presence in all districts and mobilizing large-scale civic participation anchored in faith communities.