--- description: Here's where Ohio Governor John Kasich stands on a few key issues, including abortion and health care. title: 5 Things to Know About John Kasich image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta6560a7eb3e46e9c/69887cdb428a9ef11acd1513/jonh-kasich-ohio-new-hampshire.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [2016 Election](/tag/2016-election/) ## 2016 Election Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # 5 Things to Know About John Kasich ## Video: 12 Hours on the Campaign Trail [Watch (HLS stream): 12 Hours on the Campaign Trail](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/WQuMJswt.m3u8) (3:58)  _Published 2016-02-07. Across New Hampshire, candidates are engaging in the kind of retail politics that is only possible in a small state: attending luncheons and speaking at town halls, shaking voters’ hands in restaurants, and taking hundreds of selfies._  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 10, 2016 12:23 AM CUT  John Kasich, governor of Ohio and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, greets voters while arriving at a polling station at Broken Gound Elementary School in Concord, New Hampshire. John Kasich, governor of Ohio and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, greets voters while arriving at a polling station at Broken Gound Elementary School in Concord, New Hampshire.Bloomberg-Bloomberg via Getty Images  by [Melissa Chan](/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 10, 2016 12:23 AM CUT [Ohio Governor John Kasich](https://johnkasich.com/meet-john/ "undefined") was surging on Google and leading the Republican field in terms of searches before polls closed Tuesday, [according to New Hampshire search data](http://time.com/4214305/new-hampshire-primary-google-predictions/ "undefined"). Here’s a little background on the candidate and where he stands on five key issues: **Abortion** Kasich is against abortion and federal funding of abortion. The candidate calls himself a “strong, consistent and committed believer in the sanctity of human life” on his campaign website. The governor enacted a law in 2011 that [bans late-term abortions](http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/07/gov%5Fkasich%5Fsigns%5Flate-term%5Fabo.html "undefined"), when a pregnancy is 20 weeks along. **Guns** Kasich is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and opposes President Obama’s gun-control executive orders. The gun owner’s 2014 re-election bid was endorsed by the National Rifle Association.  New Hampshire 2016 Primary results -- 92% precincts reporting **Health Care** Kasich believes Obamacare should be repealed because he said it has increased the cost of health insurance in Ohio while raising taxes. **Terrorism** Kasich has said he believes it will require boots on the ground to wipe out ISIS and other extremist groups. He also calls for a better international plan to fight the terrorist group, which involves mutual defense action by NATO and regional allies. Part of Kasich’s plan also includes increasing support to the Kurdish military and creating no-fly zones, according to his campaign site. **Background** Kasich, 63, is originally from Pennsylvania. He and his wife Karen have twin 16-year-old daughters. Kasich was re-elected to be Ohio’s governor in 2014\. Before that, he spent 18 years in Congress. 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