About Jonathan

A calling, not a hobby

In January 2001, an eighteen-year-old from the Sacramento area stood in the bitter cold of Washington, D.C., with hundreds of thousands of others at the National March for Life.

Jonathan Keller thought he already knew what “pro-life” meant. His parents had taken him to pro-life outreaches for a decade, and he had held Life Chain signs on the streets of Citrus Heights. He served as vice president of his local Teens for Life group. A few months earlier, he had finished his Eagle Scout service project for a pregnancy resource center near his home.

But on that frozen day, he saw that the cause was not a side interest. It was a spiritual battle for the soul of the nation.

Jonathan R. Keller, President and CEO of California Family Council, smiling outdoors on the State Capitol grounds in Sacramento
Jonathan Keller at eighteen in his Scout uniform outside the Sacramento-area pregnancy resource center he served for his Eagle Scout project, October 2000
His Eagle Scout project for a Sacramento-area pregnancy center, October 2000.
Jonathan Keller as a high school student holding a pro-life sign on a Sacramento street
Standing for life as a high school student in Sacramento.

I realized then that fighting for life could no longer be a hobby. It had become my calling.

Jonathan Keller

More than twenty years in the arena

Jonathan began his advocacy career in 2003 at Right to Life of Central California in Fresno. He served as youth director from 2003 to 2007, and as executive director from 2008 to 2013. Early in his career, he helped Lila Rose launch Live Action, now one of the nation’s best-known pro-life organizations. Since 2012, he has been a regular voice on Right to Life Radio, a weekly program in Fresno.

In January 2014, Jonathan succeeded founder Ron Prentice as leader of California Family Council. The council advances God’s design for Life, Family, and Liberty through California’s Church, Capitol, and Culture. It is part of the Family Policy Alliance network and serves as the California public policy partner of Focus on the Family, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Family Research Council. Jonathan also leads California Family Alliance, the council’s legislative advocacy affiliate.

Since then, Jonathan has:

  • Testified before California legislative committees more than twenty times, on bills about life, marriage, parents’ rights, and religious liberty.
  • Helped lead the statewide opposition to AB 2943 in 2018. Its author withdrew the bill.
  • Hosted the California March for Life at the State Capitol every year since it began in 2021. In 2025, more than 2,000 Californians marched.
  • Spoken on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in December 2024, as the justices heard United States v. Skrmetti.
  • Debated attorney Gloria Allred on FOX 11 Los Angeles after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
  • Led California Family Council as Alliance Defending Freedom named it Policy Ally of the Year in 2022.
Jonathan R. Keller speaks at the 2026 California March for Life at the State Capitol
California March for Life, 2026
Jonathan R. Keller testifies before the California State Assembly on SB 1146
Testifying before the California State Assembly
Jonathan Keller marching for life in front of a snowy U.S. Supreme Court, January 2016
March for Life at a snowy Supreme Court, 2016.
Jonathan Keller on the stage of the 2026 National March for Life in Washington, D.C.
National March for Life, Washington, D.C., 2026.
Jonathan Keller stands beneath the presidential seal at the White House in 2026.
At the White House, 2026.
Jonathan Keller with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson backstage at the 2024 March for Life in Washington, D.C.
With Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, 2024.

Alongside national leaders

Over two decades of advocacy, Jonathan has stood with leaders in government, ministry, and the pro-life movement. Tap a name to follow them.

Jonathan Keller with former Vice President Mike Pence in 2023.
With former Vice President Mike Pence, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2021.
With former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, 2021.
Jonathan Keller with U.S. Senator James Lankford in 2024.
With U.S. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, 2024.
Jonathan Keller with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023.
With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with former Ambassador Sam Brownback in 2023.
With Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch in 2023.
With Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with Lila Rose of Live Action in 2022.
With Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action, 2022.
Jonathan Keller with Tony Perkins of Family Research Council in 2017.
With Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, 2017.
Jonathan Keller with Scott Klusendorf of Life Training Institute in 2026.
With Scott Klusendorf, president of Life Training Institute, 2026.
Jonathan Keller with Dr. James Dobson in 2016.
With Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, 2016.
Jonathan Keller with Alistair Begg in 2023.
With Alistair Begg, Bible teacher at Truth For Life, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with Pastor Jack Hibbs in 2021.
With Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, 2021.
Jonathan Keller with Jeanne Mancini of the March for Life in 2022.
With Jeanne Mancini, then president of the March for Life, 2022.
Jonathan Keller with David Daleiden in 2022.
With David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, 2022.
Jonathan Keller with David Bereit outside the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025.
With David Bereit, co-founder of 40 Days for Life, 2025.
Jonathan Keller with U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw at the March for Life in 2022.
With U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw of Texas, 2022.
Jonathan Keller with then-Senator Ben Sasse in 2017.
With then-Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, 2017.
Jonathan Keller with Congressman Doug LaMalfa in 2024.
With the late Congressman Doug LaMalfa of California, 2024.
Jonathan Keller with U.S. Representative David Valadao in his office in 2023.
With U.S. Representative David Valadao of California, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, in 2025.
With Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, 2025.
Jonathan Keller with Steve Green in 2025.
With Steve Green, president of Hobby Lobby and founder of the Museum of the Bible, 2025.
Jonathan Keller with Michael Knowles in 2023.
With Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire, 2023.
Jonathan Keller with Benjamin Watson in 2024.
With former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, 2024.
Jonathan Keller with Enes Kanter Freedom in 2023.
With former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, 2023.

Faith and family

Jonathan is a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of Campus Bible Church in Fresno. He graduated from Fresno Pacific University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, and he is an Eagle Scout. He and his wife, Julia, live in the Fresno area with their two sons.

Jonathan Keller in cap and gown with his diploma at Fresno Pacific University in 2009.
Graduating from Fresno Pacific University, 2009.

Off the clock, he is a self-described geek: Star Trek, Marvel, and a slow-smoked brisket.

In his words

Too many people, even other Christians, dismiss deep blue California as a lost cause. But we serve the Author of Life, not fleeting polls. Sometimes faithfulness is simply doing the next right thing: one bill, one outreach, one life at a time.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

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