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Che Ahn for Governor: Faith, Freedom & Parental Rights in California | Supreme Court Church Case + 2:22 Calling

Key Takeaways (Table of Contents)

Servant Leadership: How Pastoring Prepared Ché Ahn to Lead California (00:00)

Q: As a candidate in the California Governor Election 2026, how did your leadership journey—pastoring, mentoring, and building organizations—prepare you to lead, especially in a state you describe as having a moral and leadership vacuum?

A: I think it goes right back to my conversion when I came to know Jesus Christ at the age of 17—May 25, 1973. I started reading the Gospels and Jesus talks about leadership in Matthew 20. He says the Gentiles “lord over” people, but if you want to be great in His kingdom you have to be a servant. He emphasized servant leadership.

If you’re a pastor, you’re called to serve people. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. So I began studying leadership principles from the Word of God. The world dominates and controls. But we lead by grace, and we lead with character so people trust us.

I’ve also had tremendous mentors—Jack Hayford, Peter Wagner at Fuller Seminary, leaders like Billy Graham. Proverbs 20 says when you walk with the wise, you become wise. I’m not name-dropping. These were deep relationships. And I believe to whom much is given, much is required—so I need to give out what God has put into me and serve with integrity and character.

The 2:22am Calling: Why Ché Ahn Says God Called Him to Run for Governor (00:06)

Q: What happened at 2:22am that led you to say God called you to run—Che Ahn for Governor of California?

A: It was April 28th at 2:22 in the morning. That number is important to me because it represents Isaiah 22:22—God opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open.

When He called me to run, it wasn’t through a dream. I didn’t hear an audible voice. I woke up and the presence of God came upon me and I just knew He was asking me to lay down everything and run for governor.

My reaction was, “Please God, don’t ask me to do this.” I’ve lived in California 42 years. It’s going to take a miracle to turn California around. Yet I felt the Lord say, “With Me all things are possible.”

So I asked for a sign. I said, “If I get an invitation to the White House, I’ll know this is You.” A few hours later I opened my email and there was a cordial invitation from President Trump to the White House—that day. That got my attention.

And then my wife Sue said, “I believe this is why we came to California.” She reminded me of a dream God gave her years ago calling us to Los Angeles for revival and harvest—so she believes this is about revival and reformation in California.

Fiscal Responsibility & Stewardship: What Stadium Events Taught Him About Managing Money (00:25)

Q: California is facing debt and spending problems. What did running large-scale stadium events like “The Call” teach you about fiscal responsibility and stewardship?

A: “The Call” started in 1999 when Lou Engle had a vision to put a million young people on the Washington, DC mall. That’s expensive—Washington is the most expensive free venue in the world. You pay for everything: police departments, permits, portable toilets, metro deposits—everything.

That DC event cost about $5 million. We estimated 100,000 people but by 10am we had 400,000, and over half a million came. It became the largest youth prayer gathering in American history. Then we did seven more events and had to raise over $10 million.

Here’s what’s crazy: at the end of the final event in 2003, we finished $15,000 in the black—$10,000,015. God provided exactly what we needed. No one took a salary; it was volunteers. My church carried my salary.

And after that, God provided for our church building in a miraculous way too. We’ve seen again and again: if you do God’s work God’s way, He provides. Those stewardship principles—accountability, transparency, discipline—matter if we’re going to fix Sacramento.

California Homelessness, Debt, and Waste: “Mismanagement Is Crushing the Poor” (00:33)

Q: What’s your critique of California spending—homelessness funding, the “bullet train,” and state debt—and how does that connect to your platform for California Governor Election 2026?

A: We’re in massive debt—around $18 billion as we’re talking. We have money missing and major mismanagement. We passed a bullet train plan in 2008—$40 billion—and we don’t have the results we were promised. We spend about $5 billion a year on homelessness—$24 billion in the last five years—and homelessness increased by around 40%.

Then the solution becomes “tax more”—tax billionaires, tax mileage—because revenue is falling. But businesses and corporations are leaving California. It’s hurting poor people the most. We have a huge percentage of Californians living in poverty.

We need to fix stewardship, but we also need to change the spiritual climate of California. Because without that, no governor can fix this state.

Prayer + Politics: The “Million Ekklesia” Strategy to Activate Voters (00:39)

Q: What is the “Million Ekklesia” plan and how does it connect to voting, activism, and restoring California?

A: My strategy isn’t typical Democrat or Republican. I’m building a grassroots movement: a million “ekklesia” prayer hubs—small groups of two or three gathered (Matthew 18). But they aren’t just prayer warriors. They’re activists who will help get out the vote.

I lead a large network of churches in 73 nations, and the Lord has told me to turn my heart toward California—establish houses of prayer, because Jesus said in Mark 11:17, “My house will be called a house of prayer.”

So we’re establishing an army of intercessors across California who also register, mobilize, and vote. And we’re connecting volunteers to prayer hubs based on where they live.

Religious Freedom in California: The Supreme Court Church Case Against Newsom (00:46)

Q: Why does the “Che Ahn Supreme Court church case” matter for religious freedom in California—and what actually happened when you sued Governor Newsom?

A: Full disclosure: I lost in the lower courts. I was threatened with arrest, a year in jail, a $4.5 million fine, and even threats toward our church members. I appealed to the Ninth Circuit—the most liberal appeals court—and I lost there too.

But by God’s grace, the Supreme Court took the case. They said this was wrong. I was defending First Amendment rights and upholding the Constitution. It was the state that overreached.

We won, and we received a $1.3 million settlement that went to legal costs. Liberty Counsel represented us, and Matt Staver was phenomenal. We give God the glory because the Supreme Court didn’t have to pick the case—but they did.

Parental Rights in California Education: Why Ché Calls Certain Policies “Marxist” (00:56)

Q: What do you mean when you say California is drifting toward “Marxism,” and how does that connect to parental rights in California education?

A: My father was a prisoner of war in North Korea—an atheistic regime. So when I see government control expanding in California, it alarms me. In communism, the state replaces parental authority and religious freedom.

One example is a bill I referenced—policies that remove parents from the loop when a child wants to change pronouns or pursue transition-related steps at school. The message becomes: “The state knows best.” That’s government overreach.

When I’m governor, I want to restore parental rights. Proverbs 22:6 says parents train up a child. The church can supplement, the state can supplement, but the parents are responsible. We need to stop what I call indoctrination and restore a “we the people” government.

Pro-Life, Marriage, and the Family First SALT & LIGHT Statement (01:07)

Q: Why did you sign the Family First SALT & LIGHT statement, and what are your core values on life, marriage, and family policy?

A: Integrity is who you are before God. For me it was a no-brainer. I’m pro-life—unashamedly. I’ve been part of the pro-life movement for over 25 years. The purpose of “The Call” prayer gatherings included praying to overturn Roe v. Wade and mobilizing young people to vote life.

I’m also pro-marriage between a man and a woman. I believe God created male and female. Jesus affirmed marriage in Matthew 19. I’m pro-free market—my family history is directly shaped by the cost of communism.

These positions are not political marketing for me. They’re convictions.

“Wake Up, Speak Up, Show Up”: A Message to Christians in Every Community (01:12)

Q: What would you say to Christians who feel hesitant to get involved—politically or publicly—in their community?

A: Second Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us a spirit of fear, but love, power, and a sound mind. The word used there is not just “fear,” it carries the idea of cowardice.

Jesus said if you want to be His disciple, you take up your cross and follow Him. Acts 1:8 uses the word for “witness” that connects to martyrdom—laying down your life.

So there’s no room for cowardice. Daniel says those who know their God will be strong and take action. We need to speak out when government violates constitutional rights and when evil is called good.

For me, Newsom isn’t the head of the church—Jesus is. I felt the Lord told me to open up and to sue, and I obeyed Him.

How to Volunteer, Join an Ekklesia Prayer Hub, and Support Che Ahn for Governor (01:18)

Q: How can people help Che Ahn for Governor—especially by volunteering, joining the prayer hubs, or supporting the campaign?

A: The best thing you can do is pray for California and pray for me. But you can also support the campaign financially—any U.S. citizen can support a governor’s race.

Media is expensive. We need to reach millions of people, and that takes television and advertising.

To join the prayer hubs, go to the website and click Volunteer. You can become a prayer hub leader. We’ll email you and I’ll send weekly encouragement and equipping videos. We’ll also ask you to pray for:

  • 10 people who don’t know Jesus (for harvest in your area)
  • your state assembly member and state senator by name

That’s the strategy: prayer + action + turnout.

Watch the interview here.