Tulchin Research
5%4%3%2%1%0%
Republican
Ché Ahn
Republican candidate for Governor in California
Republican
California Governor winner? (Person)
$13.6M
NOV 4, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleEvangelical pastor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age70 years old (Jan 17, 1956)
GenderMale
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LocationCalifornia
BackgroundEvangelical pastor
EducationFuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.)
Notable personal detailsChé Ahn is a Korean American evangelical pastor based in Pasadena, California. He and his wife, Sue Ahn, co-founded Harvest Rock Church in 1994 and he has led it as senior pastor. He is the president of Harvest International Ministry and serves as International Chancellor of Wagner University, and he earned an M.Div. and D.Min. from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is running for Governor of California in 2026.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgcheahn.orgche4ca.comsos.ca.govstage1.harvestim.orgharvestinternational.orgharvestinternationalministries.orghubministries.orgdp.electionresults.sos.ca.govvigarchive.sos.ca.govgov.ca.govcommons.wikimedia.orgharvestim.orgfiles.santaclaracounty.govmanuals.pluselections.cdn.sos.ca.govcountyofmerced.comcpp.edupeoplefor.orgchristianpost.commusic.amazon.comaltahistorian.compolitics1.comorgcouncil.comalliance-healthycities.comallpeople.comidcrawl.comsuttonsmart.commedium.comthenewfounders.usmycharisma.cominstagram.comfacebook.comx.comtiktok.comdailynews.comroysreport.comwordandway.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgballotready.orgnga.orggovinfo.govfec.govcongress.govwikidata.org
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate proposes lowering the tax burden on working families and small businesses, reducing regulation to encourage business growth, pausing environmental rules to speed housing construction, auditing wasteful government spending, and increasing in-state energy production to lower costs.
Healthcare
The candidate supports requiring full parental notification and involvement for any medical interventions for minors and emphasizes investing in trauma-informed care and family reunification programs; his campaign platform emphasizes reducing government overreach on family and medical decisions.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports expanding legal pathways for undocumented residents through a self-deport-and-fast-track legal reentry program that would create renewable work visas and a path to citizenship after a period of lawful work and background checks, while emphasizing enforcement for those with criminal records and respect for the rule of law. He frames immigration policy as compassionate but accountable, distinguishing lawful immigrants from criminal actors and calling for orderly, law-based immigration processes.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate believes life begins at conception, opposes legal abortion, and supports redirecting public funds away from abortion toward prenatal, postnatal, and adoption support. He has organized and pledged to advance a pro-life agenda intended to make abortion illegal and rare. He criticizes California measures that codify abortion rights and frames opposition to abortion as a central policy and moral priority.
Climate & Energy
Supports using California’s domestic oil and natural gas resources to meet energy needs, lowering gas and utility costs, reforming CEQA to speed housing and infrastructure, and investing in water storage and infrastructure while describing current environmental regulation as overly restrictive. Emphasizes balancing environmental stewardship with economic and human wellbeing rather than aggressive emissions mandates or phasing out fossil fuels.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports strengthening law enforcement and armed campus security as part of public-safety strategy and emphasizes enforcing criminal laws rather than reducing police funding. Describes guns as a symptom of deeper social issues and prioritizes mental-health treatment and faith-based rehabilitation alongside visible armed deterrents in schools and public spaces.
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedAug 18, 2026
Ché Ahn is still running for California governor, but he missed the filing deadline and is now campaigning as a write-in candidate after being disqualified from the June primary ballot. He has continued fundraising and appearing at events, though reports say his chances are long odds in a crowded race. The broader race has moved on to the general election, and recent coverage suggests the contest is still being shaped by California’s top-two system and debate over whether it should be repealed.
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Articles
SASanta Ana Orange County Register4 months ago
A Pasadena pastor running for California governor didn’t qualify for the ballot. How - and why - he’s still campaigning
Negative
LALos Angeles Times24 days ago
California backtracks on good-government policies in divided Trump era
Neutral
SSFGATE3 months ago
California holds crowded primary in race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom
Positive
VCVentura County Star6 months ago
California governor race gears up with March debate. How to watch
Neutral
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising